Jūmangoku Fukusaya Gyōda Main Store: A Meiji-Era Storehouse Turned Confectionery Landmark
Standing proudly along the former Nikkō-Tatebayashi Road in the heart of Gyōda City, Saitama Prefecture, the Jūmangoku Fukusaya Gyōda Main Store is far more than a place to buy sweets. This imposing two-story earthen-walled storehouse, designated as a nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property, is a living testament to the merchant culture that once thrived in this castle town. Today it serves as the flagship store of Jūmangoku Fukusaya, one of Saitama's most beloved confectionery makers, seamlessly blending Meiji-era architectural heritage with the warm hospitality of a modern Japanese sweets shop.
Historical Background
The building that now houses the Jūmangoku Fukusaya main store was originally constructed in 1883 (Meiji 16) as the shop-warehouse (mise-gura) of the Yamada Seibei merchant house. The structure was built by Isaburo, the eleventh-generation head of the family, counting from the first Seibei. Historical maps from the Tenpō era (1830–1844) record the first Seibei as "Gofukuya Seibei" — a kimono fabric dealer — indicating that the family had been prominent merchants in Gyōda for generations.
In 1969 (Shōwa 44), a national road-widening project necessitated that the entire building be physically relocated using the traditional Japanese technique of hikiya (building relocation). Following this move, the storehouse was acquired by Jūmangoku Fukusaya Co., Ltd. and converted into their main retail store, a role it has continued to serve to this day.
Jūmangoku Fukusaya is renowned throughout Saitama Prefecture for its signature product, Jūmangoku Manjū, a refined steamed bun filled with smooth red bean paste. The packaging was designed by the legendary woodblock print artist Munakata Shikō, and its iconic catchphrase "Umai, Umasugiru" (Delicious — Too Delicious!) has become deeply embedded in local culture through decades of television commercials.
Why It Was Designated a Cultural Property
The Jūmangoku Fukusaya Gyōda Main Store was registered as a national Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) on October 2, 2007. The designation recognizes its significance as a well-preserved example of Meiji-era dozō-zukuri (earthen-walled warehouse) commercial architecture. With its tall proportions, plastered exterior walls, three sets of hinged fireproof doors (kannon-biraki tobira) on the second-floor facade, and large ornamental ridge-end tiles (onigawara), the building demonstrates the refined yet robust design sensibility of Meiji merchant architecture.
The structure makes a significant contribution to the historical streetscape of Gyōda, a former castle town of the Oshi Domain. It stands as part of the broader cultural landscape recognized in 2017 when "The Tabi-Gura Town of Gyōda: Supporting the Foundations of Kimono Culture" was designated as a Japan Heritage story — the first such designation in Saitama Prefecture.
Architectural Highlights
The building is a two-story earthen-walled warehouse (dozō-zukuri) with a total building area of approximately 96 square meters. Its frontage measures 7.9 meters and its depth extends 13 meters. The roof is finished with sangawara-buki (pan-tile roofing) in a gabled (kirizuma) style, with a distinctive T-shaped wing extending from the rear of the street-facing gable.
The exterior is coated in black lacquer plaster, creating a striking contrast with the surrounding streetscape. The second floor features three bays of kannon-biraki (double-hinged) fireproof doors — a characteristic element of traditional Japanese storehouses designed to protect goods from fire. Crowning the ridge are large, boldly carved onigawara demon-face tiles that lend the building an air of dignified strength.
Inside, the storehouse has been tastefully renovated as a retail space while preserving the structural character of the original warehouse. Visitors can appreciate the thick earthen walls and heavy timber framing that define the dozō construction tradition, even as they browse the shop's wide selection of traditional Japanese confections.
Visitor Information
The Jūmangoku Fukusaya Gyōda Main Store welcomes visitors who wish to purchase its famous sweets and experience the atmosphere of a Meiji-era merchant storehouse. The shop offers complimentary cold barley tea and seating for visitors to rest during their exploration of Gyōda's historic streets. The store also participates in the popular Gyōda Hana-Chōzu (flower water basin) events, displaying beautifully arranged floral basins at the storefront.
The store is conveniently located along the main street of Gyōda's old town, within easy walking distance of many other cultural property buildings and tabi warehouses. It is approximately a 10-minute walk from Gyōda-shi Station on the Chichibu Railway.
Surrounding Attractions
Gyōda City offers a wealth of historical and cultural experiences that pair perfectly with a visit to the Jūmangoku Fukusaya main store.
Oshi Castle Ruins (Oshi-jō): About a 15-minute walk from the store, the reconstructed three-story turret of Oshi Castle sits atop the original castle grounds. This castle famously withstood Ishida Mitsunari's water siege during the 1590 Odawara Campaign and was the inspiration for the popular novel and film "Nobō no Shiro" (The Floating Castle). The adjacent Gyōda City Local History Museum explores the region's history from ancient times through the modern era.
Tabi Warehouse Walking Trail: Gyōda's back streets are dotted with approximately 80 surviving tabi (Japanese split-toed socks) warehouses, built from the late Meiji period through the early Shōwa era. These diverse structures — earthen-walled, stone-built, and mortar-finished — have been repurposed as cafés, soba restaurants, and boutique shops.
Sakitama Kofun Group: A short drive or bus ride away, this nationally designated Special Historic Site features nine large burial mounds dating from the 5th to 7th centuries, including the Maruhakayama Kofun, Japan's largest circular burial mound.
Ancient Lotus Park (Kodai Hasu no Sato): In summer, this park displays thousands of ancient lotus blossoms grown from seeds estimated to be approximately 1,400 to 3,000 years old, discovered in Gyōda in 1971.
Gyōda Hana-Chōzu (Flower Water Basins): Throughout the town, shops, shrines, and residences display gorgeous flower-filled water basins, with monthly illumination events centered around Oshi Castle and Gyōda Hachiman Shrine.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Saitama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Jumankoku Fukusaya Gyoda Main Store
- [ Kawagoe Little Edo & Moominvalley Park ]
Q&A
- What is the Jūmangoku Fukusaya Gyōda Main Store building?
- It is a two-story earthen-walled storehouse (dozō-zukuri) originally built in 1883 as the shop-warehouse of the Yamada Seibei merchant family. Registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property in 2007, it now serves as the flagship store of Jūmangoku Fukusaya, one of Saitama Prefecture's most famous confectionery companies.
- What is Jūmangoku Manjū?
- Jūmangoku Manjū is a steamed bun made with premium ingredients including Japanese yam, Hokkaido-grown red beans, and carefully selected rice flour. Its packaging was designed by the celebrated artist Munakata Shikō, and it is widely known in Saitama through its famous catchphrase "Umai, Umasugiru" (Delicious — Too Delicious!).
- How do I get to the store?
- The store is about a 10-minute walk from Gyōda-shi Station on the Chichibu Railway. From JR Gyōda Station (Takasaki Line), you can take the city loop bus. If coming from Tokyo, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kumagaya Station and transfer to the Chichibu Railway (approximately 10 minutes to Gyōda-shi Station).
- Is there an entrance fee to see the building?
- No. The building is an active confectionery shop, so anyone can enter freely during business hours to view the architecture and purchase products. The store also offers complimentary cold barley tea and seating for visitors.
- What is the connection to Japan Heritage?
- The building is a constituent cultural property of the Japan Heritage story "The Tabi-Gura Town of Gyōda: Supporting the Foundations of Kimono Culture," designated in 2017. This story highlights Gyōda's 300-year history as Japan's leading producer of tabi (traditional split-toed socks) and the unique landscape of tabi warehouses that remain throughout the town.
Basic Information
| Name | Jūmangoku Fukusaya Gyōda Main Store (十万石ふくさや行田本店店舗) |
|---|---|
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Date of Registration | October 2, 2007 |
| Year Built | 1883 (Meiji 16); relocated by hikiya in 1969 |
| Structure | Two-story earthen-walled warehouse (dozō-zukuri), pan-tile roof |
| Building Area | Approximately 96 m² |
| Dimensions | Frontage 7.9 m × Depth approx. 13 m |
| Address | 20-15 Gyōda, Gyōda City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Owner | Jūmangoku Fukusaya Co., Ltd. |
| Access | Approx. 10-minute walk from Gyōda-shi Station (Chichibu Railway) |
References
- 十万石ふくさや行田本店店舗 — 文化遺産オンライン
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/197439
- 十万石ふくさや行田本店店舗 — 行田市公式サイト
- https://www.city.gyoda.lg.jp/soshiki/shougaigakusyubu/bunkazaihogo/gyomu/rekishi_bunkazai/1/2327.html
- 十万石ふくさや行田本店店舗 — 日本遺産ポータルサイト（文化庁）
- https://japan-heritage.bunka.go.jp/ja/culturalproperties/result/2993/
- 十万石行田本店 — 十万石ふくさや公式サイト
- https://www.jumangoku.co.jp/shop/374/
- 国指定文化財等データベース
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00006446
- 日本遺産「和装文化の足元を支え続ける足袋蔵のまち行田」— 行田市
- https://www.city.gyoda.lg.jp/soshiki/shougaigakusyubu/bunkazaihogo/gyomu/rekishi_bunkazai/nihonisan/10389.html
Last verified: 2026.04.10