What the Shimizu Family Residence Barn Is
The Shimizu Family Residence Barn (清水家住宅納屋, Shimizu-ke Jūtaku Naya) is a late Meiji-era two-storey timber barn in Kawanabe, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 28 April 2009. It stands east of the main house with its ridge running north to south, and measures 13 metres by 4.8 metres, a building area of 73 square metres. It was altered in the later Shōwa era.
The roof is hip-and-gable (Irimoya-zukuri) and covered in pantiles, with lean-to eaves added toward the north end of the east side and along the north wall. At its north end the barn meets the roof of the main house, and at its south end the gate continues on the same line. In the row of buildings down the east side of the estate, the Shimizu Family Residence Barn holds the middle position.
Animals Below, Fodder Above
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Shimizu Family Residence Barn was originally split into two large halves. In the south half, the ground floor was a store and the upper floor was a living room. In the north half, horses and cattle were stabled on the ground floor, with hay and other fodder kept on the floor above.
Storage, sleeping quarters and livestock all shared one roof. In the north half the logic is vertical: feed was stored directly over the animals that ate it. Who lived in the upstairs room in the south half is not recorded in the official description.
The Shimizu household is said to have traded in rice, but no source says what its horses and cattle were used for, in the fields or on the road. Either way, placing their stalls right beside the main house shows how central the animals were to daily work.
Why It Was Listed and What to Look For
The Shimizu Family Residence Barn was listed for its contribution to the historic landscape (register no. 33-0231). The Agency describes it as one of the facilities that make up the household compound. The judgement rests less on its design in isolation than on its role, together with the main house, the gate and the well house, in forming the eastern edge of the estate.
From outside, walk round to the east to see the long side. At 13 metres long and only 4.8 metres deep, the building's narrow plan shows directly in the shape of its roof. The added eaves toward the north correspond to what was once the stable end.
At the north end, the roof coming down from the main house meets the Shimizu Family Residence Barn. House and barn are tied together under one continuous roofline, and the short step between home and workplace is written into the shape of the roof.
Visiting the Barn
The Shimizu Family Residence Barn belongs to a private household. No information has been published on interior access or photography. Visits to the Shimizu Family Residence can be arranged by phoning ahead, so mention that you would like to see the barn when you call (checked 25 September 2026).
Directions to the estate and how to arrange a visit are on the Shimizu Family Residence page.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Shimizu Family Residence Barn
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Q&A
- What was the Shimizu Family Residence Barn used for?
- The south half held a store on the ground floor with a living room above. The north half stabled horses and cattle, with hay and fodder stored upstairs.
- How big is the Shimizu Family Residence Barn?
- It is a two-storey timber building measuring 13 metres by 4.8 metres, with a building area of 73 square metres.
- Where does the Shimizu Family Residence Barn stand on the estate?
- East of the main house, running north to south. Its north end joins the main house under a shared roof, and the gate continues from its south end.
- When did the Shimizu Family Residence Barn become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- On 28 April 2009, for its contribution to the historic landscape, as register no. 33-0231.
- Can I see inside the Shimizu Family Residence Barn?
- 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 Barn (清水家住宅納屋) |
|---|---|
| Location | 889 Kawanabe Furuyashiki, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure), register no. 33-0231 |
| Year Designated | Registered 28 April 2009 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, 2 storeys, tiled roof, building area 73 square metres (13 by 4.8 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 Barn (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007692
- Cultural Heritage Online, Shimizu Family Residence Barn (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/120564
- Okayama Prefecture, Shimizu Family Residence heritage sheet (Japanese, PDF)
- https://www.pref.okayama.jp/uploaded/attachment/261009.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.25
