What the Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse Is
The Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse (清水家住宅土蔵, Shimizu-ke Jūtaku Dozō) is a late Meiji-era two-storey clay-walled storehouse in Kawanabe, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 28 April 2009. Built in the Dozo-zukuri manner, with thick earthen walls, it stands west of the main house facing east, and measures 8.5 metres by 3.9 metres, a building area of 33 square metres.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records that the Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse was first used to store rice and grain. The family is said to have been rice merchants in the late Meiji period, so the store may have held stock for the trade. No source says if the rice kept here was stock for sale or food for the household.
A Separate Roof and Timber Skirting
The storehouse has a simple gabled roof in the Kirizuma-zukuri form, covered in pantiles, built as an okiyane. In this arrangement the roof is framed separately and set on top of the sealed earthen body of the store, leaving a gap between the two. It is a common way of roofing Japanese clay storehouses.
The walls are finished in white Shikkui lime plaster, with vertical boards fixed across the lower part. The boards rise to a different height on the gable ends, where the triangle of the roof shows, than on the long eave sides. No record explains why the heights were varied.
Along the east front runs a lean-to canopy, the Geya, 2.0 metres deep. Because the Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse faces east, this canopy reaches out toward the main house.
Why It Was Listed and What to Look For
The Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse was listed for its contribution to the historic landscape (register no. 33-0232). The Agency calls its design plain and sober, with ornament deliberately held back, and Okayama Prefecture's notes make the same point.
So the interest lies in the changes of finish rather than in decoration. Compare where the white plaster meets the boarding on a gable end and on a long side. The difference in height is easy to miss unless you look for it.
Look too at the junction of wall and roof. Because an okiyane sits on top of the store rather than growing out of its walls, the way the two meet at the top of the wall shows how the building was put together. It is one of the few places on this restrained exterior where the construction method can be read by eye.
Visiting the Storehouse
The Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse belongs to a private household, and no information has been published on interior access or photography. Visits to the Shimizu Family Residence are arranged by phoning ahead, so say that you would like to see the storehouse when you call (checked 25 September 2026).
From in front of the main house, looking west, you can see the east front and its canopy. Directions to the estate and how to arrange a visit are on the Shimizu Family Residence page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Okayama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse
- [ Kurashiki Bikan District & Korakuen Garden Tours ]
Q&A
- What was kept in the Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, it originally held rice and grain. The family is said to have traded in rice in the late Meiji period.
- What is the okiyane roof on the Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse?
- A roof framed separately and set on top of the earthen body of the store, with a gap between them. It is a common form for clay storehouses.
- How big is the Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse?
- It is a two-storey clay storehouse measuring 8.5 metres by 3.9 metres, with a building area of 33 square metres and a 2.0-metre canopy on the east side.
- When did the Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- On 28 April 2009, for its contribution to the historic landscape, as register no. 33-0232.
- Can I go inside the Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse?
- Interior access has not been published. Visits to the estate are arranged by phone, so ask when you call.
Basic Information
| Name | Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse (清水家住宅土蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 889 Kawanabe Furuyashiki, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure), register no. 33-0232 |
| Year Designated | Registered 28 April 2009 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Clay-walled storehouse, 2 storeys, tiled roof, building area 33 square metres (8.5 by 3.9 metres) |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | Visits free of charge by prior arrangement. Interior access to be confirmed |
References
- National Cultural Properties Database, Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007693
- Cultural Heritage Online, Shimizu Family Residence Storehouse (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/154295
- Okayama Prefecture, Shimizu Family Residence heritage sheet (Japanese, PDF)
- https://www.pref.okayama.jp/uploaded/attachment/261009.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.25
