Said to Be the Oldest Storehouse on the Property
The Hiroumi Family Residence Middle Storehouse (廣海家住宅中蔵, Hiroumi-ke jūtaku nakagura) is a two-storey storehouse from the late Edo period in Nishimachi, Kaizuka City, Osaka Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2003.
It stands a short step west of the Living Room Storehouse. At 2 by 2 ken, with a footprint of 15 square meters, it is the smallest of the registered Hiroumi buildings: a tiled, two-storey Dozo-zukuri storehouse.
Small as it is, the Hiroumi Family Residence Middle Storehouse carries a family tradition: that it is the oldest storehouse on the property.
Why It Matters
The tradition has some support. The Agency for Cultural Affairs judges from the condition of its materials and surviving marks that it slightly predates the main house. Since the main house dates from 1861, the Hiroumi Family Residence Middle Storehouse may reflect the early years of the family business.
It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. With the Living Room and Lower Storehouses it forms the cluster of storehouses on the west side of the compound, and it is the oldest marker in that group.
What to Look For
The plan is almost a square, 2 ken each way, with the door on the north side. Like the Living Room Storehouse it holds household utensils.
The Lower Storehouse to the south lines its east gable up with this one, a tidy alignment the Agency's description specifically mentions.
The Agency also judged the Meiji-period New Storehouse to be newer from the weathering of its timbers. Across this group, the way the materials have aged is the main clue to their dates.
Visiting the Hiroumi Family Residence Middle Storehouse
The Hiroumi Family Residence Middle Storehouse stands inside a private compound and is not open to the public. It lies toward the west of the lot, and whether it can be seen from the street has not been confirmed.
The grounds are closed, so any viewing is from the public roads around the property. How the compound fits together, and how to get there, is covered on the Hiroumi Family Residence page.
Q&A
- Is the Hiroumi Family Residence Middle Storehouse the oldest building on the property?
- Family tradition says it is the oldest storehouse, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it slightly before the 1861 main house on the evidence of its materials. Its exact date is not known.
- How big is the Hiroumi Family Residence Middle Storehouse?
- It is a two-storey storehouse of 2 by 2 ken with a footprint of 15 square meters, the smallest of the registered Hiroumi buildings.
- Can visitors see the Hiroumi Family Residence Middle Storehouse?
- No. It stands inside a private compound that is closed to the public.
- What is kept in the Hiroumi Family Residence Middle Storehouse?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, household utensils, as in the Living Room Storehouse. Its door opens to the north.
- Where does the Hiroumi Family Residence Middle Storehouse stand?
- A short step west of the Living Room Storehouse, with the Lower Storehouse just to the south, its east gable aligned with this one.
Basic Information
| Name | Hiroumi Family Residence Middle Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 569 and others, Nishimachi, Kaizuka City, Osaka Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2003/7/1 (Heisei 15) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | 2 by 2 ken; building area 15 square meters |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Not open to the public |
References
- Hiroumi Family Residence Middle Storehouse, Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00003458
- Hiroumi Family Residence (Kaizuka City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.kaizuka.lg.jp/bunkazai/bunkazaidata/bunkazai/kuni_sitei/tourokubunkazai/hiromike.html
Last verified: 2026.09.26
