What Is the Ogino Family Residence Front Gate?
The Ogino Family Residence Front Gate (荻野家住宅表門, Ogino-ke Jūtaku Omotemon) is the mid-Meiji entrance gate of the Ogino Family Residence in Tori 3-chome, Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 3, 2006. It stands toward the east end of the plot's north boundary, set a little back from the old highway, with its ridge running east to west.
It is a single-bay Udekimon with a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof of Sangawara-buki pantiles. In an udekimon the roof rests on Udeki, bracket arms that project forward and back from the posts, which keeps the gate light and plain. The main posts of the Ogino Family Residence Front Gate stand 1.9 meters apart and are braced by Hikaebashira, rear support posts. The Agency also records 15 meters of board fence attached to it.
Lined Up with the Front Door
The position of the Ogino Family Residence Front Gate was chosen to suit the main house. The Agency's description notes that the gate corresponds to the entrance of the house, so a visitor passing through from the highway would walk straight toward the front door.
The gate is also not flush with the street. Pulled back slightly, it leaves a small apron of ground in front, a pause between road and household. The leaves are vertical boards hung to swing inward, so even when open they never block the roadway.
Why the Front Gate Was Registered
The Ogino gate was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency describes it as a modest gate that nevertheless helps shape the scene along the old highway.
A house and a storehouse are private spaces; a gate is the first thing anyone walking past actually sees. With its unadorned udekimon form, the Ogino Family Residence Front Gate is the part of this Meiji merchant compound that meets the street and announces where the household begins.
Seeing the Ogino Family Residence Front Gate
The Ogino Family Residence Front Gate belongs to a private home, and visitors cannot go through it. The gate itself can be seen from the old highway to the north.
Because the gate sits a little back from the street, its profile, with the bracket arms carrying the roof, is easiest to read from a slight angle rather than head-on. The gate is the residents' everyday entrance, so if you stop to look, keep clear of the doorway and of passing traffic, and take photographs from the public road.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Tochigi
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Ogino Family Residence Front Gate
- [ Nikko Toshogu Shrine & Kegon Falls Day Trip ]
Q&A
- How old is the Ogino Family Residence Front Gate?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the middle of the Meiji era. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 3, 2006.
- What type of gate is the Ogino Family Residence Front Gate?
- It is a single-bay udekimon with a gabled pantile roof. The main posts are 1.9 meters apart and are braced by rear support posts.
- Where does the Ogino Family Residence Front Gate stand?
- It stands toward the east end of the north boundary, opposite the entrance of the main house and set slightly back from the old highway.
- Why is the Ogino Family Residence Front Gate registered?
- It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. Though plain, it helps form the streetscape along the old highway.
- Can I visit the Ogino Family Residence Front Gate?
- You cannot go through it, but you can see it from the old highway. Please photograph it from the public road and do not block the entrance.
Basic Information
| Name | Ogino Family Residence Front Gate |
|---|---|
| Location | 3-3545 Tori, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered August 3, 2006 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 1.9 meters between main posts, with 15 meters of attached board fence |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Grounds not open (exterior visible from the old highway) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Ogino Family Residence Front Gate (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00005557
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Ogino Family Residence Main House (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00005555
- Ashikaga City: Ogino Family Residence, Main House, Inner Storehouse, Front Gate and South Wall (Japanese)
- https://www.city.ashikaga.tochigi.jp/education/000029/000169/000627/p000811.html
- Ashikaga City: Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings) (Japanese)
- https://www.city.ashikaga.tochigi.jp/education/000029/000169/000627/p001307.html
Last verified: 2026.10.03
