What Is the Ebara Family Residence West Storehouse?
The Ebara Family Residence West Storehouse (榎原家住宅西土蔵, Ebara-ke Jūtaku Nishi Dozō) is a two-storey storehouse built in 1890 in Toyotsu-cho, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 9 June 2004. It stands at the north-west corner of the Ebara estate, right beside the main house.
It is a Dozo-zukuri earthen-walled building under a roof of round and flat tiles, with a building area of just 18 square metres. Of the three registered storehouses on the estate it has the smallest footprint and the greatest height.
Why the West Storehouse Was Registered
The Ebara Family Residence West Storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that, small as it is, its tall and distinctive form stands out from everything around it.
Its purpose is the reverse of the east storehouse, which was kept low to match the gate on the street front. Tucked into the back corner of the estate, the west storehouse uses height to announce itself.
What to Look For
The storehouse rises from a tall base of dressed stone, and that base adds directly to its height. On a plan of only 18 square metres, the result is a building that reads as a vertical block.
There is no moulded cornice under the eaves; the eave soffits and verges are sealed in plaster instead. The walls are clad high up in funaita, boards generally said to be salvaged from old boats, a finish often used in the Kansai region to shield earthen walls from rain. The contrast between the white plaster above and the tall band of dark boarding below is the storehouse's signature.
On the south side is a Kuramae, a roofed space in front of the storehouse door, and here it connects straight into the formal Zashiki rooms at the back of the main house. Valuables could be moved between the best rooms and the store without stepping outdoors.
Visiting the Ebara Family Residence West Storehouse
The Ebara Family Residence West Storehouse stands deep within a private home. Neither the interior nor the grounds are open.
It is at the north-west corner, on the far side of the main house from the gate on the east street, so expect not to be able to see it from the street front.
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Q&A
- When was the Ebara Family Residence West Storehouse built?
- The national database dates it to 1890. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 9 June 2004.
- Where on the estate is the Ebara Family Residence West Storehouse?
- At the north-west corner, next to the main house. The roofed space on its south side connects directly to the formal rooms at the back of the house.
- What does the Ebara Family Residence West Storehouse look like?
- A two-storey earthen-walled storehouse on a tall stone base, with plastered eaves and verges and walls clad high in old boat boards. It is small but tall and stands out from its surroundings.
- How is the Ebara Family Residence West Storehouse different from the east storehouse?
- The east storehouse was kept low to continue the line of the gatehouse, while the Ebara Family Residence West Storehouse was built tall. The west storehouse covers 18 square metres, the east storehouse 28 square metres.
- Can I visit the Ebara Family Residence West Storehouse?
- No. It stands inside a private home, and neither the interior nor the grounds are open.
Basic Information
| Name | Ebara Family Residence West Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 25-2 Toyotsucho, Suita City, Osaka Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 9 June 2004 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey earthen-walled storehouse, tiled roof, building area 18 square metres |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private residence) |
References
- 榎原家住宅西土蔵 (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004153
- 榎原家住宅西土蔵 (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/184063
- 指定・登録文化財一覧 (Suita City)
- https://www.city.suita.osaka.jp/bunkazai/shitei/1031084.html
Last verified: 2026.09.29
