Hatsuda Family Residence Wall

A Tiled Wall Along the Side Street

The Hatsuda Family Residence Wall (初田家住宅塀) is a townhouse boundary wall of the late Edo period in Chuo 2-chome, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on April 28, 2010 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a timber wall with a tiled coping, 9.2 metres long; registration number 25-0291.

The Wall on the East Lane

The Hatsuda Family Residence Wall lines the lane on the east side of the plot, running north from the back of the main house (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Square posts stand on a base of dressed stone, and Udeki arms projecting from them carry a beam that supports a small tiled roof.

Below the roof, tall vertical boards are capped by a band of white Shikkui plaster (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The tiling differs on the two faces: square-ribbed wall tiles on the street side, and ordinary pantiles facing into the property.

Why It Was Registered

The Agency notes that the Hatsuda Family Residence Wall continues the line of the main house to form a traditional streetscape, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape. It is listed with the main house and storehouse in Otsu City's plan for maintaining its historic character (Otsu City).

What to Look For

From the east lane, follow how the back of the main house hands on to the wall. The stone base, the plaster band above the boards and the eaves held out on wooden arms run the full 9.2 metres.

Note the square-ribbed tiles on the street face; the Agency records that the inner face uses a different, ordinary pantile.

Visiting

The Hatsuda Family Residence Wall faces the lane on the east side of the plot and can be seen from the street.