What Is the Gankaen New Storehouse?
The Gankaen New Storehouse (巖華園新蔵, Gankaen Shingura) is a fireproof earthen storehouse built in 1862 on the Gankaen estate in Tsukiya-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2005.
It stands west of the main house and just north of the smaller storehouse. The two-story Dozo-zukuri block measures 4.5 by 2.5 bays and covers 40 square meters. Its gabled roof is a separate "set-on" roof of pan tiles, and its walls are white Shikkui plaster above a band of black plaster.
Despite the name, this is one of the older storehouses at Gankaen. The building simply called the storehouse, next door to the south, is mid-Meiji and therefore younger. No record explaining the name has been found.
Why the Gankaen New Storehouse Was Registered
The Gankaen New Storehouse was registered on the criterion that it contributes to the historic landscape of the country. Of the seven registered buildings at Gankaen, it is the only one whose construction year is fixed by a written record; the others are dated by period, "late Edo" or "mid-Meiji."
That record is an ink inscription on a koyazuka, one of the short posts in the roof space that stand on the beams to carry the ridge and purlins. Carpenters often wrote the date and the client's name on these posts, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs dates the building to 1862 on that basis.
A set-on roof, or okiyane, is a timber roof placed over the sealed earthen body of the storehouse as a separate layer, keeping rain off the plaster while leaving the fireproof shell intact. With its two-tone plaster, the Gankaen New Storehouse shows the full late Edo outfit of a Kanto storehouse.
What to Look For at the Gankaen New Storehouse
White Walls, Black Base
The walls of the Gankaen New Storehouse divide cleanly between white plaster above and black below. Black plaster is mixed with soot or ink and can be polished to a sheen, and putting it at the base, where rain splashes, also hides the dirt.
The Plastered Double Doors
The entrance is toward the west end of the south side, fitted with double doors thickly plastered like the walls. Storehouse doors were shut during fires to protect the contents.
Where the Windows Face
On the upper floor, windows open to the south and east, toward the sun and toward the main house.
Visiting the Gankaen New Storehouse
The Gankaen New Storehouse stands behind the main house on the west side of the grounds and cannot be seen from the front gate. Walk around the main house to the west to see it beside the smaller storehouse. Gankaen is a working inn; phone ahead to ask whether you may walk the grounds during a meal or stay, or visit only to look.
No interior viewing is advertised. Ask the staff before taking photographs.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Tochigi
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Gankaen New Storehouse
- [ Nikko Toshogu Shrine & Kegon Falls Day Trip ]
Q&A
- When was the Gankaen New Storehouse built?
- An ink inscription on a roof post dates it to 1862. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2005.
- Is the Gankaen New Storehouse really newer than the other storehouse?
- No. It is late Edo, while the Gankaen Storehouse next to it is mid-Meiji. No record explaining the name has been confirmed.
- How big is the Gankaen New Storehouse?
- It is a two-story earthen storehouse of 4.5 by 2.5 bays with a building area of 40 square meters, under a set-on gabled roof of pan tiles.
- What stands out about the exterior of the Gankaen New Storehouse?
- The white plaster walls with a black plaster base, and the plastered double doors near the west end of the south side.
- Where can I see the Gankaen New Storehouse?
- It is west of the main house, north of the smaller storehouse, and not visible from the gate. Call ahead to ask whether you may walk the grounds.
Basic Information
| Name | Gankaen New Storehouse (巖華園新蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 8 Tsukiya-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered in 2005 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Earthen storehouse, 2 stories, tiled roof, building area 40 square meters |
| Owner | Private (Nakajima family) |
| Public Access | On the grounds of a working inn; call ahead about visits |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Gankaen New Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004517
- Cultural Heritage Online: Gankaen New Storehouse
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/117597
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Gankaen Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004516
- Ashikaga City: Gankaen buildings (Japanese)
- https://www.city.ashikaga.tochigi.jp/education/000029/000169/000627/p000814.html
Last verified: 2026.09.25
