Shōwa
昭和Browse Japan’s cultural heritage from the Shōwa period (1926 – 1989). Filter by prefecture, type, and keyword, with concise stories, maps, and travel tips.
Stone hoanden of 1936 in a former schoolyard in Mihara, Hiroshima, just 1.7 metres square, with Doric-style columns and a curved roof topped by a jewel finial.
Timber village office of 1954 on Momoshima island in Onomichi, Hiroshima, with a hall and stage upstairs, converted in 2021 into a guesthouse and art event space.
Western-style bakery of 1934 on a corner of the white-walled main street of Joge, Fuchu, Hiroshima, with arched windows and reliefs; the exterior is always viewable.
Three-storey timber photo studio of about 1932 in Takehara, Hiroshima, filling a trapezoidal corner plot by the old town, with a studio and darkroom on top.
A round reinforced concrete chimney about 19 m tall, built around 1929 by an Osaka contractor for the brewhouse of Hiroshima's former sake research station in Saijo.
A 1929 reinforced concrete brewhouse of Hiroshima's former sake research station in Saijo, with a tiled roof on steel king post trusses; interior closed to visitors.
A single-story timber rice mill of Hiroshima's former sake research station in Saijo, its roof stepping up three times to fit milling machines; now an indigo studio.
A 1928 timber lab-office of Hiroshima's prefectural sake research station in Saijo, with a pilastered porch and half-hipped tile roof, now the Shusenkan sake café.
Concrete gateposts from around 1929 at Hiroshima's former sake research station in Saijo, with washed-stone finish, stepped corners and old lamp brackets on top.
The tea room of the Former Fukui Family Residence in Onomichi, added in 1928, pairs a four-and-a-half-mat room with a waiting room and shows modern tea taste.
Kirei Sake Brewery No. 7 Storehouse Chimney is a brick stack from around 1955 in Saijo, the only round brick chimney left in the district, tied to soy brewing.
Kirei Sake Brewery Gatepost is a granite entrance in Saijo, raised around 1955 with the relocated parlour. Its 2.5-metre posts pair rough stone with sharp corners.
Postwar annex of about 1948 at Koishiki in Fuchu, Hiroshima, with a tea room under an L-shaped gabled roof, slender log posts and bamboo and woven ajiro details.
Ginryukaku of Kosanji Temple in Setoda, Onomichi, dates from 1943 and juts out over a garden pond, its ceiling painted with a dragon and its timbers silvered.
The Drum Tower of Kosanji Temple in Setoda, Onomichi, was built in 1940 behind the west arm of the Arhat Hall, matching the Bell Tower in size and form.
The Main Gate of Kosanji Temple in Setoda, Onomichi, dates from 1940 and is built of iron, posts and doors alike, with dragons worked in relief on its leaves.
Shishinden Hall of Kosanji Temple in Setoda, Onomichi, dates from 1941 and stands on the west of the upper terrace, a square core ringed by an open skirt.
The Bell Tower of Kosanji Temple in Setoda, Onomichi, was built in 1940 behind the east arm of the Arhat Hall, three bays by two on a white plastered skirt.
Shingyoden Hall of Kosanji Temple in Setoda, Onomichi, dates from 1941 and stands on the east of the upper terrace, built as a lecture hall with one room inside.
The Sangha Treasure House of Kosanji Temple in Setoda, Onomichi, was built in 1941 on the middle terrace and opens inside into a single large coffered room.