About the Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse
The Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse (前田家住宅西の蔵, Maeda-ke Jūtaku Nishi no Kura) in Tachibanacho, Imari City, Saga Prefecture, is a late Meiji-period earthen-walled storehouse joined to the north end of the main house's earth-floored area, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2001.
The West Storehouse is a Dozo-zukuri building with a gabled (Kirizuma-zukuri) tiled roof and a building area of 139 square meters. It is the largest of the three Maeda storehouses, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs calls it the family's biggest. It dates from the late Meiji period (1868 to 1911).
The agency's structure field lists it as single-story, but its description says two-story.
Why the Maeda West Storehouse was registered
The Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The agency points out that, together with the thatched main house, it creates a distinctive exterior and forms an essential part of the estate's west front.
The storehouse's west wall faces the street along the estate. What a passerby sees is a sequence: the thatched main house, then this large tiled storehouse, then the Water Mill running on to the north. Added in the late Meiji period, the West Storehouse joins with the late Edo main house to make up the public face of the Maeda Family Residence.
What to look for at the Maeda West Storehouse
The West Storehouse shows two different faces. Toward the street it presents a plain wall, while on the east, the estate side, it carries a Geya lean-to roof that shelters a broad Kuramae.
A kuramae is the working space in front of a storehouse door, used for loading, unloading and setting goods down for a while. Since the West Storehouse adjoins the north end of the earth floor, the household's indoor work and the handling of goods at the storehouse were probably only steps apart.
From the street, look at the point where the thatch of the main house meets the tiles of the storehouse. Two buildings with different roofing and different pitches still read as one continuous west front, and that is the distinctive look the agency describes.
Visiting the Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse
The interior of the Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse is not open. Even when the owners rent out the whole house for an event, the West and East Storehouses are excluded.
The exterior can be seen from the road along the west side of the estate. Please stay off the property and keep clear of traffic while you look. For photography and directions on opening days, see the Maeda Family Residence page and the owners' notices.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Saga
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse
- [ Yoshinogari Ruins & Arita Pottery Workshop Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse 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 large is the Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse?
- Its building area is 139 square meters, the largest of the three Maeda storehouses. It is an earthen-walled storehouse with a gabled tiled roof.
- Why was the Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse registered?
- It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. With the thatched main house it creates a distinctive exterior and forms the estate's west front.
- What is the kuramae at the Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse?
- It is the sheltered work area under the lean-to on the storehouse's east side, in front of its door. At the West Storehouse this space is broad.
- Can I visit the Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse?
- The interior is closed, but the exterior can be seen from the road on the west side of the estate.
Basic Information
| Name | Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse |
|---|---|
| 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 139 square meters |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Interior closed (exterior visible from the road) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs database: Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00002317
- Cultural Heritage Online: Maeda Family Residence West Storehouse
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/115397
- Imari City: Maeda Family Residence (Japanese)
- https://www.city.imari.lg.jp/2977.htm
- Maeda Family Residence: terms of use (Japanese)
- https://www.maedake-jyutaku.com/services-7
Last verified: 2026.10.10
