Former Shogisan Distribution Reservoir Gate

A Cut-Stone Gate to the Reservoir

The Former Shogisan Distribution Reservoir Gate (旧床几山配水池門) is the main gate of a reservoir compound of 1917 in Agenogi, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on April 18, 2008 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records stone gateposts 2.9 metres wide, with a side gate; registration number 32-0074.

The Main Gate on the East Edge

The gate stands at the eastern edge of the compound and served as the main entrance to the reservoir (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its square posts, built of cut stone, are 2.6 metres high and set 2.9 metres apart, with all four faces dressed with edokiri, a fine border cut along the edges of each block. A side gate is attached.

A Matsue City report lists the entrance gate, with the reservoir and the metering room, among the parts that survive from the original construction.

Why It Was Registered

The Agency notes that, plain as it is, the gate shows care in its design, with white granite used for the base, the band courses and the caps to sharpen its outline. It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.

What to Look For

Look closely at the edges of the stones. Edokiri cuts a narrow margin around each face so that its outline reads crisply, and here it is applied on all four sides of the posts (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The white granite base, band courses and caps mark off the 2.6-metre posts from bottom to top. Ornament is kept to a minimum, as befits the entrance to a waterworks, but the stonework is careful.

Visiting

The gate is outdoors and can be seen up close during the park's opening hours.