A Brick Landmark in the Brewery Yard
The Nishibori Shuzo Chimney (西堀酒造煙突) is a brick chimney of the Taisho era in Awanomiya, Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on April 18, 2008 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a brick chimney 14 metres high; registration number 09-0173.
A Square Stack of Shimotsuke Brick
The Nishibori Shuzo Chimney rises near the centre of the brewery grounds, a square brick stack 1.9 metres a side at the base and about 14 metres tall (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The bricks are said to come from the Shimotsuke Renga Seizo company, and they are laid in English bond, with courses of long faces alternating with courses of ends. Steel angles run up the four corners, held tight by round bars fastened with nuts (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered the Nishibori Shuzo Chimney for its contribution to the historic landscape and notes that it is loved locally as a landmark. Of the four registered structures at the brewery, it is the only one that is not a building.
What to Look For
Look up the corners for the steel angles and the bolted rods that bind them (Agency for Cultural Affairs). On the brick faces, the English bond shows as alternating stripes of long faces and short ends, course by course.
Visiting
The Nishibori Shuzo Chimney is seen from outside only. Standing near the centre of the grounds and about 14 metres tall, it can be seen from within the brewery when you visit the shop. No official guidance on photography was found.
Q&A
- How tall is the Nishibori Shuzo Chimney?
- About 14 metres, with a base 1.9 metres square (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Where were the bricks of the Nishibori Shuzo Chimney made?
- They are said to be products of the Shimotsuke Renga Seizo company (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Nishibori Shuzo Chimney built?
- In the Taisho era (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How is the Nishibori Shuzo Chimney reinforced?
- Steel angles run up its four corners, bound by round bars fastened with nuts.
- When was the Nishibori Shuzo Chimney registered?
- On April 18, 2008 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Nishibori Shuzo Chimney (西堀酒造煙突) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1452 Awanomiya, Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2008/04/18 (Heisei 20) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Brick, base 1.9 m square, about 14 m high |
| Owner | Nishibori Shuzo Co., Ltd. (per the company; not listed in the Agency database) |
| Public Access | Exterior only (visible within the brewery grounds) |
References
- Nishibori Shuzo Chimney (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007000
Last verified: 2026.10.29
