Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse: The Oldest Date on the Estate
The Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse (高澤家住宅土蔵, Takazawa-ke Jūtaku Dozō) is a late-Edo-period (1751-1829) storehouse on the Takazawa estate in Nagano, Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture, a single-story fireproof Dozo-zukuri block with an attached timber store, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on May 15, 2007.
It stands north of the main house and faces south. The plastered block measures 2.5 by 2 ken under a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof of sheet steel, and the building area, including the attached store, is 37 square meters. By the dates in the national register, the Takazawa Storehouse belongs to the earliest period of the five registered buildings.
Why the Takazawa Storehouse Was Registered
The Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs calls it plainly built throughout. The outer walls are finished in Shikkui lime plaster, a lean-to roof of pantiles, a Geya, projects over the front, and a window is set above it. Nothing here is decorative; this is a working store for the household.
On its east side, the plastered block is joined by a single-story timber store 2.5 ken square, also gabled and roofed in sheet steel. Two differently built parts, one of fireproof earth and plaster and one of wood, sharing a single building, is what gives the Takazawa Storehouse its character.
The sources disagree about the roofing: the national register says sheet steel, while Gyoda City's page says tile. This article follows the national register.
What to Look For
The first thing you notice about the Takazawa Storehouse is its white plaster. Thick plastered walls that keep fire out are the whole point of a dozō, and the one opening described in the register sits high, above the front lean-to.
The lean-to over the front shelters the wall from rain and creates a covered spot for moving goods in and out. Because only the lean-to is tiled while the main roof is steel, the roof reads in two tiers when you compare them.
Look east and the white block meets the wooden store. The two parts wear the same gabled roof but very different walls, the kind of practical add-on a working estate makes as its needs change.
Viewing the Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse
The interior of the Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse is not open. The building sits north of the main house, deep inside the property, so it is barely visible from the path between the gate and the main house.
The area behind the main house is part of the family's home, so please do not walk around it to see the storehouse. Even on days when the Takazawa Memorial Hall café is open, keep to the path and its surroundings.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Saitama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse
- [ Kawagoe Little Edo & Moominvalley Park ]
Q&A
- When was the Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse built?
- The national register dates it to the late Edo period (1751-1829), the earliest period of the five registered Takazawa buildings.
- How is the Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse built?
- It is a single-story dozō block of fireproof plaster, 2.5 by 2 ken, with a gabled sheet-steel roof. A timber store 2.5 ken square is attached on the east side.
- How big is the Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse?
- Its building area, including the attached timber store, is 37 square meters.
- Is the Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse roofed in tile or steel?
- The national register records sheet steel, while Gyoda City records tile, so the sources differ. The lean-to over the front is tiled.
- Can I see the Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse?
- The interior is not open. It stands north of the main house, deep in the grounds, and is barely visible from the path between the gate and the main house.
Basic Information
| Name | Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 3-5-41 Nagano, Gyoda City, Saitama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered May 15, 2007 (54th round, registration no. 11-0104) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 37 square meters (plastered block 2.5 by 2 ken) |
| Owner | Private owner |
| Public Access | Interior not open (exterior only) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Cultural Properties Database: Takazawa Family Residence Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00006011
- Gyoda City: Takazawa Family Residence (Main House and Four Other Buildings)
- https://www.city.gyoda.lg.jp/soshiki/shougaigakusyubu/bunkazaihogo/gyomu/rekishi_bunkazai/1/2323.html
Last verified: 2026.09.26
