A Fireproof Store for Works of Art
The Tozanso Storehouse (東山荘蔵) is a concrete store built for works of art of 1946 in Kasugacho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on August 1, 2016 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a reinforced-concrete building with a building area of 19 square metres; registration number 22-0228.
A Store Joined to the Tea House
The storehouse of Tozanso is a two-storey reinforced-concrete store built in 1946 to hold works of art, joined to the north end of the tea house (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It is 4.9 by 3.9 metres with a flat roof and a parapet round the top of the walls.
The walls are plastered, with a stone-coursed base and cornice-like drip mouldings in washed artificial stone. The Agency describes it as a store that combines fire resistance with good design.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the plastered walls with their artificial-stone base and cornice mouldings (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by the Church of World Messianity (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to Toho no Hikari, an organisation affiliated with the church, a local preservation society holds open days and plans regular openings; check their announcements for dates. The seven buildings are introduced together on the Tozanso page.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In 1946 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What was it for?
- To store works of art.
- How is it built?
- Reinforced concrete with a flat roof.
- Why does it matter?
- It is fireproof and well designed.
- When was the Tozanso Storehouse registered?
- On August 1, 2016 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Tozanso Storehouse (東山荘蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1712-3 Kasugacho, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2016/08/01 (Heisei 28) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Reinforced concrete, 19 m² |
| Owner | Church of World Messianity |
| Public Access | Opened on preservation society open days (Toho no Hikari) |
References
- Tozanso Storehouse (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00011143
- Moon-viewing at Tozanso, Atami, marking its first public opening (Toho no Hikari, in Japanese)
- https://tohonohikari.or.jp/topics/%E7%86%B1%E6%B5%B7-%E6%9D%B1%E5%B1%B1%E8%8D%98%E3%81%A7%E3%80%8C%E8%A6%B3%E6%9C%88%E4%BC%9A%E3%80%8D.php
Last verified: 2026.10.26
