What is the Omori Family Residence Well?
The Omori Family Residence Well (大盛家住宅井戸, Ōmori-ke Jūtaku Ido) is a stone-built well of 1915 in the Omori homestead in Kohama, Taketomi Town, Okinawa Prefecture, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan on August 3, 2006.
It lies inside the south stretch of the boundary wall, southwest of the hinpun. With its washing floor it has a registered area of 4.3 square meters.
Why It Was Registered: A Well Shared with the Neighbors
The well was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, as the water source that kept the household running alongside the main house, the hinpun and the wall.
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Omori well once supplied everyday water to the house next door as well. It belonged to one homestead but served more than one family.
What to Look For: A Curb of Six Coral Slabs
The well curb is round, 1 meter across and 0.6 meters high, made from 6 slabs of coral limestone fitted into a ring.
A single half-moon cover stone rests on top of the curb, a round ring capped with a half disc that makes this well easy to recognize.
Around the Omori Family Residence Well is a stone washing floor measuring 2.4 meters north to south and 1.7 meters east to west. Drawing water and using it happened in the same spot, which made the well a working center of the household.
Visiting the Well
The Omori Family Residence Well is inside the south wall on private ground and cannot be visited. How much of it can be seen from the lane outside has not been confirmed.
The homestead can be viewed from outside, as Taketomi Town advises, but please do not look in through the gateway to try to see the well.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Okinawa
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Omori Family Residence Well
- [ Churaumi Aquarium & Shuri Castle Okinawa Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Omori Family Residence Well built and registered?
- It was built in 1915 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 3, 2006.
- How big is the Omori Family Residence Well?
- The round curb is 1 meter across and 0.6 meters high. The registered area, including the washing floor, is 4.3 square meters.
- What is the curb of the Omori well made of?
- Six slabs of coral limestone fitted into a ring, with a half-moon cover stone on top.
- What else is part of the Omori Family Residence Well?
- A washing floor 2.4 by 1.7 meters surrounds it. The well once supplied water to the neighboring house too.
- Can I see the Omori Family Residence Well?
- It is inside the wall on private ground and cannot be visited. Its visibility from the lane has not been confirmed.
Basic Information
| Name | Omori Family Residence Well (大盛家住宅井戸) |
|---|---|
| Location | 15 Kohama, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered August 3, 2006 |
| Quantity | 1 well |
| Dimensions | Stone, area 4.3 square meters (well curb 1 meter in diameter) |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | Not open (inside private grounds) |
References
- Omori Family Residence Well (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00005700
- Omori Family Residence Well (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/141468
Last verified: 2026.09.29
