The Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse
The Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse (小泉家住宅小家蔵, Koizumi-ke Jūtaku Koyagura) is a two-storey plastered storehouse of 1844 standing against the north side of the main house on the Koizumi estate in Gokasho Yamamoto-cho, Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture; moved here in 1907, it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2015.
Long and slim, it runs east to west, five bays by two, with a building area of 39 square meters under a gabled roof of pantiles. Note the reading: koyagura, not koiegura.
Why the Koyagura Storehouse Was Registered
The Agency for Cultural Affairs registered the Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse as a building that carries the characteristic features of local construction. It names three: plaster applied all the way up to the underside of the eaves, lower walls facing the street clad in boards from old boats, and stonework inside for work with a water channel.
That last detail shows water work being done inside the storehouse, in a town known for its channels.
What to Look For at the Koyagura Storehouse
On the Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse, look above the windows. Every opening on every face has its own miniature tiled hood, and along the white walls they set up a steady rhythm.
Plastering right up under the eaves takes time and skill; the aim was a storehouse that could survive a fire. Only the base of the wall on the street side is protected by funaita, reused boat planks, probably to take the splash of rain and the knocks of passers-by.
Seeing the Koyagura Storehouse
The Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse is on private property and not open. Because the Agency describes it as facing a street on the north of the estate, part of the exterior may be visible from the public road. Please look from the road only.
Q&A
- When was the Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse built?
- The Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse dates from 1844 and was moved to the site in 1907.
- When was the Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse registered?
- The Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 4, 2015 (registration number 25-0365).
- How is the name Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse read in Japanese?
- The Japanese name 小泉家住宅小家蔵 is read Koizumi-ke Jūtaku Koyagura.
- What is the stonework inside the Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as stonework built for work with a water channel, one of the building's local characteristics.
- Can I visit the Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse?
- No. The Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse is on private property and not open. We found no public-opening notice as of September 2026.
Basic Information
| Name | Koizumi Family Residence Koyagura Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 270 Gokasho Yamamoto-cho, Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered August 4, 2015 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey plastered storehouse, tiled roof, building area 39 square meters |
| Owner | Koizumi Shoten Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private property; no entry to the grounds) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: 小泉家住宅小家蔵 (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010631
- Cultural Heritage Online: 小泉家住宅小家蔵
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/246825
Last verified: 2026.09.27
