A Small Storehouse with an Unusual Skin
The north storehouse is a compact two-story dozo, a thick-walled, fire-resistant storehouse, on the former Fujii estate. It rests on a cut-stone base and carries an oki-yane, a separate roof set over the plastered structure so the two can move independently. The walls are finished in white plaster, but along the lower skirt the builders fixed horizontal planks salvaged from wooden river boats, an uncommon touch for a merchant's storehouse.
The estate was assembled by Fujii Hikoshiro (1876-1956), an Omi merchant who dealt in thread and wool. Storehouses like this held goods and valuables, and their sturdy plaster walls were built to survive fire. This one was moved onto the site together with the main house around 1934.
Registration and Value
The north storehouse was registered on 5 November 1997, as number 25-0012. It is protected as part of the estate rather than as a stand-alone monument, and its value lies in how it completes the merchant compound.
The reused boat planking is the detail specialists point to. It reflects a thrifty reuse of good timber that fits the Omi merchant outlook, and it sets this storehouse apart from more conventional examples.
What to Look For
Look low rather than high here. The plastered upper walls are handsome but expected; the boat-plank skirt is what rewards a close look. At 21 square meters the building is small, and comparing it with the slightly larger south storehouse near the gate shows how the family varied plain storehouses across the grounds.
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Q&A
- What is a dozo?
- A thick-walled, plaster-finished storehouse built to resist fire, used to keep goods and valuables.
- What makes this storehouse unusual?
- The lower part of the plaster wall is faced with horizontal planks reused from wooden river boats.
- How big is it?
- It is a small two-story building of about 21 square meters.
- When was it registered?
- On 5 November 1997, as registration number 25-0012.
- Can visitors see it?
- The storehouse stands within the museum grounds and can be viewed during opening hours.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Fujii Residence (Gokasho History and Folklore Museum), North Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 681 Miyasho-cho, Higashiomi, Shiga |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property; registered 5 Nov 1997 (no. 25-0012) |
| Structure | Two-story dozo storehouse, tiled roof, building area 21 m² |
| Date | About 1899 (relocated with the main house) |
| Owner | Higashiomi City |
| Access | Within the museum grounds; open approx. 10:00-16:30, Mondays and some days closed |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Cultural Properties Database — Fujii Residence North Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00000352
- Higashiomi Tourism Association — Fujii Hikoshiro Residence
- https://www.higashiomi.net/media/miru/a150
- Shiga Tourism Information — Gokasho Omi Merchant House
- https://www.biwako-visitors.jp/spot/detail/1011/
Last verified: 2026.07.04