The Otani Family Residence Rear Gate and Wall
The Otani Family Residence Rear Gate and Wall (大谷家住宅裏門及び塀, Ōtani-ke Jūtaku Uramon oyobi Hei) is the gate and wall bounding the north and east sides of the Otani Family Residence in Inaricho, Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture, built in 1931 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2004.
The Rear Gate stands toward the east end of the north boundary. It is a single-bay gate in the Kōraimon style, with widely spaced rafters in a single tier and a pantile roof, and its opening is 2.5 metres wide. The wall continues on both sides to enclose the north and east edges of the lot, running 63 metres including its turns, and includes a wicket gate.
Why the Rear Gate and Wall Were Registered
They were registered for their contribution to the historic townscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes how solidly they define the back of a large estate.
The wall is built in the Shinkabe manner, with its lower section clad inside and out in overlapping boards held by notched battens, a type of Shitami-itabari, and topped with a pantile coping. Carrying the wall round the rear at the same standard keeps the outline of the whole property intact.
What to Look For
Compare it with the Middle Gate at the front and you can read how the household separated front from back. The Middle Gate is light and decorative, with its swelling roof, openwork carving and adze-textured boards. The Rear Gate takes the koraimon form also used for castle gates, and its wall base is armored in battened boarding, closing off the rear of the estate with some weight.
At 63 metres, the Otani Family Residence Rear Gate and Wall is more than twice the length of the 28-metre wall at the front, and it turns a corner to cover two full sides of the lot.
The notched battens that hold the boards create a regular pattern of shadow along the foot of the wall, a detail worth noticing if you are walking past.
Visiting the Rear Gate and Wall
The Otani Family Residence Rear Gate and Wall forms the outer edge of the grounds, so any view of it is from the road outside. Beyond it is a private home, and there is no entry.
This is effectively the family's back door. Don't linger at the gate or try to look in. Directions to the estate are on the Otani Family Residence page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Saitama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Otani Family Residence Rear Gate and Wall
- [ Kawagoe Little Edo & Moominvalley Park ]
Q&A
- Where is the Otani Family Residence Rear Gate and Wall?
- The gate stands toward the east end of the estate's north boundary, and the wall encloses the north and east sides of the lot.
- How long is the Otani Family Residence Rear Gate and Wall?
- The gate opening is 2.5 metres wide, and the wall runs 63 metres including its turns, with a wicket gate.
- What style is the gate of the Otani Family Residence Rear Gate and Wall?
- It is a single-bay koraimon-style gate with a pantile roof, heavier in character than the sukiya-style Middle Gate at the front.
- Can visitors see the Otani Family Residence Rear Gate and Wall?
- Only from the road outside. The estate is a private home and the grounds are closed.
- Why was the Otani Family Residence Rear Gate and Wall registered?
- It was registered on February 17, 2004, for its contribution to the historic townscape.
Basic Information
| Name | Otani Family Residence Rear Gate and Wall |
|---|---|
| Location | 2-3-39 Inaricho, Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2004/2/17 (Heisei 16) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Wooden, tiled roof, gate opening 2.5 metres, wall length 63 metres including turns, with a wicket gate |
| Owner | Otani Shoji Limited Partnership |
| Public Access | Grounds not open to the public (a boundary structure seen only from outside) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Otani Family Residence Rear Gate and Wall
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00003840
- Fukaya City: Nationally Designated and Registered Cultural Properties (Japanese)
- https://www.city.fukaya.saitama.jp/rekishi_bunkazai/shinobunkazai/1391665872242.html
Last verified: 2026.09.25
