What the Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall Is
The Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall (旧長島家住宅外塀, Kyū Nagashima-ke Jūtaku Sotobei) is a stone boundary wall of around 1920 enclosing the north and west sides of the former headman's estate in Koyatsubayashi, Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on March 6, 2024. It is the only one of the estate's eight listings that is a wall pure and simple, not a building.
It runs 80.8 meters along the west side and 55.5 meters along the north, 136.3 meters in all. On a footing of rough natural stones sit six courses of Oya stone cut into rectangular blocks, capped with coping stones of the same material. The register classes it as a structure and counts it as one.
The three Taisho-era storehouses on the estate are also built of Oya stone, and the wall finishes the property's perimeter in the same material.
Why the Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall Was Registered
The Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall was listed for its contribution to the historic landscape. The official description stresses its sheer length and its role in marking out the estate.
On the south, the estate is closed by a row of buildings: rice storehouse, front gate, nagayabei. This wall takes the other two sides, so that between them they wrap almost the whole property. Saitama Prefecture's announcement likewise names the gate, the nagayabei and the stone wall together as what defines the large estate.
More than 136 meters of continuous masonry shows the scale of the family's Taisho-era building works more directly than anything else on the estate.
What to Look For at the Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall
Read the Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall from the ground up. At the bottom is a footing of irregular natural stones. Above it rise six neat courses of squared Oya stone, and a row of coping stones finishes the top. The contrast between raw and dressed stone is plain to see at the foot of the wall.
Then take in the length. Along the west side, 80.8 meters is far enough that the far end looks small from the near one, and the level courses run true all the way, which says a good deal about the masons.
The two registration photographs show the west side seen from the south and the east end of the north side seen from the east. Between them they capture the wall's two best features: its long run and the way the north side ends.
Visiting the Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall
The Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall encloses the Nagashima Memorial Museum grounds and can be viewed from inside the estate on opening days. For the full picture, look north along the west side from its southern end, then visit the eastern end of the north side.
To protect the masonry, please do not climb on or lean against the wall; it is best appreciated from a few steps back.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Saitama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall
- [ Kawagoe Little Edo & Moominvalley Park ]
Q&A
- How long is the Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall?
- It runs 80.8 meters on the west side and 55.5 meters on the north, 136.3 meters in total.
- When was the Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to around 1920. It uses the same Oya stone as the estate's three Taisho-era storehouses.
- When was the Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall registered as a cultural property?
- It was registered on March 6, 2024, as contributing to the historic landscape.
- How is the Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall constructed?
- Six courses of rectangular Oya stone blocks sit on a footing of natural stones, topped with Oya stone coping.
- Where is the best place to see the Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall?
- Look north along the west side from its southern end, and visit the eastern end of the north side. The registration photographs were taken from these two spots.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall |
|---|---|
| Location | 1022 Ozakai, Koyatsubayashi, Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered March 6, 2024 |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Total length 136.3 meters (west side 80.8 meters, north side 55.5 meters) |
| Owner | Nagashima Memorial Foundation |
| Public Access | Viewable on the Nagashima Memorial Museum grounds (admission charged) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Former Nagashima Family Residence Outer Wall
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00014745
- Kumagaya City: Eight structures of the Former Nagashima Family Residence registered (Japanese)
- https://www.city.kumagaya.lg.jp/about/soshiki/kyoiku/kounanbunkazaicenter/oshirase/ta22160120240.html
- Saitama Prefecture: New Registered Tangible Cultural Properties in Kumagaya City (Japanese)
- https://www.pref.saitama.lg.jp/f2216/news/page/news2023112402.html
- Nagashima Memorial Museum: Hours, admission and access (Japanese)
- https://nagashimakinenkan.com/guide.html
Last verified: 2026.09.24
