What Is the Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse?
The Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse (古橋酒造場仕込蔵, Furuhashi Shuzōjō Shikomigura) is a two-story earthen storehouse (Dozo-zukuri) of around 1921 that runs from the workshop to the east end of the Furuhashi Sake Brewery in Ushiroda, Tsuwano Town, Shimane Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan on September 10, 2010, under number 32-0134.
Shikomi is the stage of sake making in which steamed rice, koji and water are combined to start the fermenting mash. The Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse is 28 meters long and up to 12 meters wide, and its 301-square-meter footprint makes it the largest of the brewery's five registered buildings.
Why the Brewing Storehouse Was Registered
The Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse was registered for contributing to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs says it gives the premises the character of a sake brewery, and it is the only one of the five descriptions to say so.
Size is what earns that comment. Past the depth of the shop come the workshop and then this storehouse, and the lot's east end is closed by its broad gable. On a street where a brewer's storehouses spread out behind a townhouse shop, the Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse is the building that makes that arrangement plain from outside.
The Brewing Storehouse from Outside
The roof is hipped-and-gabled (Irimoya-zukuri) and covered in interlocking pantiles. Because the width reaches 12 meters only at its widest, the national description suggests a plan that changes width along its length.
The building stands on a base of cut stone. The lower walls are faced with vertical boards (Tateita-bari) and everything above is finished in white Shikkui plaster. Windows are set in two tiers, one above the other, and the doorways are hung with iron doors. The double row of windows makes the height of the two-story storehouse easy to read from the street.
The east face is the one to look for. On the side turned toward the end of the lot, a large gable is fully plastered in white. It closes off 28 meters of storehouse with one big pale triangle, and it is no surprise that the Agency's short description takes the trouble to mention it.
Visiting the Brewing Storehouse
The Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse continues the line of the workshop along the north side street, where its board-faced lower walls, two tiers of windows and iron doors can be seen. Where the white east gable is best seen from could not be confirmed from the national records. The brewery runs tours and describes leading visitors through its quiet storehouses. Contact the brewery by the day before, and note that some days in the brewing season are unavailable. Which storehouses the tour enters is not published. Directions and booking are covered on the Furuhashi Sake Brewery page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Shimane
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse
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Q&A
- What is the Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse?
- A two-story earthen storehouse of around 1921 with a hipped-and-gabled pantile roof, the largest of the brewery's five registered buildings.
- When did the Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- On September 10, 2010, for contributing to the historic landscape of the country. Its registration number is 32-0134.
- How big is the Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse?
- It is 28 meters long and up to 12 meters wide, with a building area of 301 square meters.
- What should I look for at the Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse?
- The large white-plastered gable on the east face, the two tiers of windows and the iron doors.
- Can I see inside the Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse?
- The brewery offers tours if you contact it by the day before; some days in the brewing season are unavailable. Ask when booking which storehouses the tour enters.
Basic Information
| Name | Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | Ushiroda Honmachi Ro 196 and others, Tsuwano Town, Kanoashi District, Shimane Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2010 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 28 m long, up to 12 m wide; building area 301 m² |
| Owner | Furuhashi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (listed as 古橋酒蔵株式会社 in the national database; trading name 古橋酒造株式会社) |
| Public Access | Exterior from the north side street; interior depends on the brewery tour (contact by the previous day) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Furuhashi Sake Brewery Brewing Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008342
- Shimane Prefecture: List of Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings)
- https://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp/life/bunka/bunkazai/shimane/tourokubunkazai2.html
- Furuhashi Sake Brewery (official): Brewery Tours
- https://uijin.net/?mode=f3
Last verified: 2026.10.04
