What is the Omori Family Residence Stone Wall?
The Omori Family Residence Stone Wall (大盛家住宅石垣, Ōmori-ke Jūtaku Ishigaki) is a coral limestone boundary wall built in 1915 around 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 encloses the south, west and north sides of the plot, turning its corners for a total length of 65 meters. It stands 1.5 to 1.7 meters high and is 0.8 meters thick at the base.
Why It Was Registered
The wall was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. It is the first thing anyone sees of the homestead, and its run of stone along the lane, with the red roof of the main house above it, gives this part of Kohama village its outline.
The wall also fixes the ways in. A 2-meter gap in the middle of the south side forms the front gateway, and a side gate opens toward the west end.
What to Look For: Rounded Stones and Slabs at the Gate
Most of the Omori Family Residence Stone Wall is Nozurazumi rubble built chiefly from rounded stones about the size of a human head. It is laid dry (Karazumi), with nothing packed between the stones, so a wall over 1.5 meters high stands on the grip of the stones alone.
The masonry changes at the front gateway. On either side of the opening the builders used large flat slabs, so the ends of the wall present smooth faces amid the lumpy rubble. Stand in front of the gate and the switch is easy to spot.
Through the same gateway you can see the hinpun, built of the same coral limestone but cut into fitted blocks. Rubble for the boundary and dressed stone for the screen: the Omori homestead used the one material in two very different ways.
Visiting the Stone Wall
The outer face of the Omori stone wall lines the lane, which makes it the easiest of the four registered structures to see. Its coursing and the slabs at the gate can be studied from the road.
Inside is a private home that is closed to visitors. Please do not climb or lean on the wall, and do not walk in through the gateway.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Okinawa
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Omori Family Residence Stone Wall
- [ Churaumi Aquarium & Shuri Castle Okinawa Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Omori Family Residence Stone Wall built and registered?
- It was built in 1915 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 3, 2006.
- How long and how high is the Omori Family Residence Stone Wall?
- It runs 65 meters around the south, west and north sides of the plot and stands 1.5 to 1.7 meters high.
- How is the Omori stone wall built?
- Mainly of head-sized rounded coral limestone stones laid dry as rubble, with no filling between them.
- Where are the gates in the Omori Family Residence Stone Wall?
- The front gateway is a 2-meter opening in the middle of the south side, flanked by large flat slabs, and a side gate lies toward the west.
- Can I see the Omori Family Residence Stone Wall?
- Yes. Its outer face lines the lane and can be seen from the road. The yard inside is a private home.
Basic Information
| Name | Omori Family Residence Stone Wall (大盛家住宅石垣) |
|---|---|
| Location | 15 Kohama, Taketomi Town, Yaeyama District, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered August 3, 2006 |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Stone, length 65 meters (height 1.5 to 1.7 meters) |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | Outer face viewable from the road (grounds not open) |
References
- Omori Family Residence Stone Wall (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00005699
- Omori Family Residence Stone Wall (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/118777
Last verified: 2026.09.29
