The Fountain at the Centre of the Garden
The Former Umino Family Residence Fountain (旧海野家住宅噴水泉) is a garden fountain of around 1928 in Sukematsucho, Izumiotsu City, Osaka Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on May 2, 2017 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a concrete fountain with an area of 9.8 square metres; registration number 27-0667.
A Basin at the Heart of the Garden
The Former Umino Family Residence Fountain sits at the centre of the garden that opens to the south-east of the main house (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its plan starts from a rectangle, with the middle of each side pushed outward in an arc, so that straight lines and curves alternate around the rim.
A birdbath shaped like a flower stands in the middle of the basin (Agency for Cultural Affairs); Osaka Bunkazai Navi describes it as a petal-shaped spout.
The finishes change with height. The sides of the basin are rough-scraped mortar, while the top is coloured plaster (Shikkui) worked into edging and mouldings (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered the Umino fountain as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country, describing it as the centrepiece of the garden. Osaka Bunkazai Navi notes that the play of curve against straight line gives the space a sense of depth.
What to Look For
Inside the main house, a skylight window is cut to the same outline as the fountain (Osaka Bunkazai Navi), so house and garden share a single shape.
Look too at the contrast between the rough scraped sides and the smooth coloured plaster of the rim.
Visiting
The Former Umino Family Residence Fountain stands in the garden of a private home and is not normally open to visitors (Osaka Bunkazai Navi). At the city's Cultural Property Open Day on December 6, 2025, the garden served as one of the venues, with craft activities for children (Izumiotsu City Board of Education). No official information was found on whether the fountain still runs.
Q&A
- What does the Former Umino Family Residence Fountain look like?
- A rectangle with the middle of each side bulging outward in an arc, with a flower-shaped birdbath in the centre (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How big is the Former Umino Family Residence Fountain?
- It is concrete, with an area of 9.8 square metres (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How is the Former Umino Family Residence Fountain linked to the main house?
- It is the centrepiece of the garden south-east of the house, and a skylight window inside the house repeats its outline (Agency for Cultural Affairs; Osaka Bunkazai Navi).
- Can I visit the Former Umino Family Residence Fountain?
- Not normally, as it is in a private garden. The garden has been opened at city events such as the Cultural Property Open Day.
- When was the Former Umino Family Residence Fountain registered?
- On May 2, 2017 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Former Umino Family Residence Fountain (旧海野家住宅噴水泉) |
|---|---|
| Location | 753-3 Sukematsucho 3-chome, Izumiotsu City, Osaka Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2017/05/02 (Heisei 29) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Concrete, area 9.8 m² |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | In a private garden, closed to visitors |
References
- Former Umino Family Residence Fountain (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00011534
- Former Umino Family Residence Fountain (Cultural Heritage Online, Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/222374
- Registration of Tangible Cultural Properties (Structures), November 18, 2016 (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/shokai/yukei_kenzobutsu/pdf/r1392281_24.pdf
- Former Umino Family Residence Main House, Fountain and Wall (Osaka Bunkazai Navi, Japanese)
- https://osaka-bunkazainavi.org/bunkazai/%E6%97%A7%E6%B5%B7%E9%87%8E%E5%AE%B6%E4%BD%8F%E5%AE%85%E4%B8%BB%E5%B1%8B%E3%80%80%E5%99%B4%E6%B0%B4%E6%B3%89%E3%80%80%E5%A1%80
- Cultural Property Open Day at the Former Umino Family Residence (Izumiotsu City Board of Education, Japanese)
- https://izumiotsucity-edu.note.jp/n/n0d7a90ca13e5
Last verified: 2026.11.06
