A Doctor's Dream: The Former Korede Chikari Residence

Tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood of Sakai City, Osaka, the Former Korede Chikari Residence (旧是枝近有邸) rises like a vision from a European fairy tale. This remarkable four-story wooden building, designed by physician Korede Chikari himself in 1931, was conceived as a combined home and medical clinic — yet its dramatic silhouette would not look out of place along the shores of a Swiss lake or in the hills of the Rhine Valley.

Registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property in 2002, this extraordinary structure stands as a testament to the boundless creativity of its owner-designer and the exceptional skill of the master carpenter who brought his dream to life.

The Story Behind the Castle

Dr. Korede Chikari was a practicing physician in the Mozu area of Sakai during the early Showa period. Inspired by postcards depicting European castles, he conceived an ambitious plan: to build his own Western-style castle that would serve as both his family home and his medical practice. What makes this story even more remarkable is that Dr. Korede had no formal architectural training — he designed the entire building himself based on his passion for European architecture.

The construction was entrusted to Murata Motozō, a miyaDaiku (master carpenter specializing in shrine and temple construction) who happened to be one of Dr. Korede's patients. Murata spent approximately three years carefully translating the doctor's vision into reality, applying his deep knowledge of traditional Japanese woodworking techniques to create an unmistakably European exterior.

At the time of its construction, the site occupied a dramatic position on a small peninsula jutting out into Aiga Pond (相賀池), a large irrigation reservoir in the area. Dr. Korede deliberately chose this location so that the building would be reflected in the waters of the pond, evoking the image of a lakeside castle in Europe. The pond was filled in during the late 1960s as part of postwar urban development, and the building is now surrounded by modern houses, but the structure itself remains a striking reminder of its creator's remarkable imagination.

Why It Was Designated as a Cultural Property

The Former Korede Chikari Residence was registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property (登録有形文化財) on February 14, 2002, under the Cultural Properties Protection Act. The registration recognizes its outstanding value on several fronts.

Most notably, the building is recognized for its distinctive and eye-catching Western-style exterior design. Despite being constructed entirely of wood, the four-story structure achieves a remarkably convincing stone-like appearance through the use of artificial granite applied with a wash-out technique by skilled plasterers. The perfectly symmetrical four-sided design — identical facades on all four elevations — is extremely rare in Japanese residential architecture of any period. The combination of Corinthian columns, a central observation tower, and steep hip roofs demonstrates an ambitious and highly creative interpretation of European architectural forms executed in traditional Japanese construction methods.

Architectural Highlights and Things to See

Even viewed from the outside, the Former Korede Chikari Residence offers a wealth of architectural details that reward careful observation.

Visiting Information

The Former Korede Chikari Residence is a private property that continues to serve as a residence and medical clinic. As such, interior visits are generally not available to the public. However, the building's remarkable exterior can be appreciated from the surrounding streets. Please be respectful of the residents' privacy and the neighboring homes when visiting.

The building is located in the Mozu Umekitamachi district of Sakai's Kita Ward, within walking distance of both Nakamozu Station and Mozu-Hachiman Station. The quiet residential setting makes for a pleasant stroll, and the building's dramatic silhouette is visible as you approach along the neighborhood streets.

Nearby Attractions

The Former Korede Chikari Residence is ideally situated for combining with visits to several other major cultural sites in the Sakai area.