About the Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed
The Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed (前田家住宅薪小屋, Maeda-ke Jūtaku Takigigoya) in Tachibanacho, Imari City, Saga Prefecture, is a small late Meiji-period timber outbuilding on the northern edge of the estate, adjoining the west side of the North Storehouse, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2001.
The Firewood Shed is a single-story timber building with a gabled (Kirizuma-zukuri) roof of Sangawara-buki pantiles and a building area of 30 square meters, the smallest of the six registered Maeda buildings. It dates from the late Meiji period (1868 to 1911).
Why the Maeda Firewood Shed was registered
The Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that, as the place where firewood and other supplies were kept, it forms the work area of the back yard together with the North Storehouse and the Water Mill.
When meals were cooked over a wood-fired range, firewood was an everyday necessity. The owners note that the old cooking range still survives in the Maeda main house, and the shed built to hold fuel still stands in a corner of the back yard. Together they show in concrete terms how the household ran from day to day.
What to look for at the Maeda Firewood Shed
The Firewood Shed stands along the northern boundary of the plot, directly against the North Storehouse to its east. The earthen-walled storehouse and the timber shed line up to close off the north side of the estate.
The agency notes that the interior has been converted into living space. Even so, the posts and beams of the frame and the exterior keep their original state, so the registration reads as recognition of its outward form and structure. From outside, focus on the shape of the small gabled building itself.
Visiting the Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed
The interior of the Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed has been converted for living and is not open. It is not included in the owners' rental spaces.
Because it stands at the back of the estate on its northern edge, we have not confirmed if it can be seen from the street. It may be in use as a dwelling, so even on an opening day, ask the owners before going near it. Opening days and directions are on the Maeda Family Residence page.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed
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Q&A
- When was the Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the late Meiji period (1868 to 1911). It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 28, 2001.
- How is the Japanese name of the Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed read?
- It is read Maeda-ke Jūtaku Takigigoya, with takigi for firewood, following the agency's reading.
- Where is the Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed?
- It stands on the northern edge of the estate, joined to the west side of the North Storehouse, and with the North Storehouse and the Water Mill it encloses the back yard.
- Is the Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed in its original state?
- The interior has been converted into living space, but the frame and exterior keep their original form.
- Can I visit the Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed?
- The interior is closed. It stands at the back of the estate, so ask the owners on an opening day before approaching it.
Basic Information
| Name | Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed |
|---|---|
| Location | 4028 Tachibanacho, Imari City, Saga Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered August 28, 2001 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 30 square meters |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Interior closed |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs database: Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00002319
- Cultural Heritage Online: Maeda Family Residence Firewood Shed
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/193319
- Imari City: Maeda Family Residence (Japanese)
- https://www.city.imari.lg.jp/2977.htm
- Maeda Family Residence official website (Japanese)
- https://www.maedake-jyutaku.com/
- Maeda Family Residence: guide to the house (Japanese)
- https://www.maedake-jyutaku.com/items
Last verified: 2026.10.10
