What Is the Okawa Family Residence Great Gate?
The Okawa Family Residence Great Gate (大川家住宅大門, Ōkawa-ke Jūtaku Ōmon) is the main entrance of the Okawa estate in Omata-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture; a tiled timber Yakuimon gate of the early Meiji era, it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 18 March 2003. It is 2.9 meters wide, with a Sodobei wall on each side.
It stands south of the Main House and west of the Former Barn. Of the seven registered Okawa structures, it is the only one the Agency for Cultural Affairs classes as a structure other than a building.
It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, and the agency calls the Okawa Family Residence Great Gate an indispensable part of the estate's layout.
A Heavy Crossbeam Signals Rank
The Okawa Family Residence Great Gate is a one-bay, one-door yakuimon. In this type of gate a single roof rests on two rows of posts: the main posts at the front and the Hikaebashira rear posts behind them.
The feature to notice is the Kabuki, the crossbeam tying the tops of the posts together. Here thick crossbeams span both the main posts and the rear posts, and the agency singles them out as the mark of the gate's standing.
A Kugurido, a small wicket door, is set on each side of the opening, so people could come and go while the main doors stayed shut. These were probably used for everyday comings and goings.
Side Walls and an Angle to the Road
Walls extend to either side of the Okawa Family Residence Great Gate, boarded with Shitami-itabari weatherboarding at the base and finished in Shikkui lime plaster above. They frame the gate and form the front of the estate.
According to the agency, the gate is turned to the east of the line of the road that runs up from the bridge called 大門橋. Walking up the road, you meet the gate at a slight angle rather than straight on. The agency does not say why.
The Main House lies north of the gate and the boarded Former Barn stands to its east, so passing through the gate brings you straight toward the heart of the estate.
Seeing the Okawa Family Residence Great Gate
The Okawa Family Residence Great Gate is the entrance to the estate, and its exterior can be seen from the road in front. The ground inside is a nursery school, and sightseers may not go in.
Standing in front of the gate, look at the thickness of the crossbeams over the main and rear posts, the wicket doors on either side, and the side walls with their boarded base. The angle of the gate to the road is easier to see from a few steps back. Children are dropped off and collected in the morning and evening, so keep clear of the entrance and do not take photographs in which children may appear.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Tochigi
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Okawa Family Residence Great Gate
- [ Nikko Toshogu Shrine & Kegon Falls Day Trip ]
Q&A
- When was the Okawa Family Residence Great Gate built?
- In the early Meiji era, according to the Agency for Cultural Affairs database.
- What type of gate is the Okawa Family Residence Great Gate?
- A one-bay yakuimon gate 2.9 meters wide, with a wicket door on each side of the opening and plastered side walls with a boarded base.
- What should I look for at the Okawa Family Residence Great Gate?
- The thick crossbeams spanning the main posts and the rear posts, which the agency says express the gate's standing.
- When did the Okawa Family Residence Great Gate become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- On 18 March 2003, as registration number 09-0077, for its contribution to the historic landscape.
- Can I see the Okawa Family Residence Great Gate?
- Yes, from outside. The exterior can be seen from the road in front, but the grounds inside are a nursery school and are not open to sightseers.
Basic Information
| Name | Okawa Family Residence Great Gate (大川家住宅大門, Ōkawa-ke Jūtaku Ōmon) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1412 Omata-cho, Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure), Registration No. 09-0077 |
| Year Designated | 2003 (registered 18 March 2003) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Timber, tiled roof, width 2.9 meters, with side walls |
| Owner | Omata Yoji Seikatsudan (social welfare corporation) |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the road in front only (no entry) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Okawa Family Residence Great Gate (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00003194
- Okawa Family Residence Great Gate (Tochigi Cultural Properties, Tochigi Prefecture, in Japanese)
- https://bunkazai.pref.tochigi.lg.jp/cultural/%E3%80%90%E5%A4%A7%E5%B7%9D%E5%AE%B6%E4%BD%8F%E5%AE%85%E5%A4%A7%E9%96%80%E3%80%91/
- Registered Tangible Cultural Properties, Buildings (Ashikaga City, in Japanese)
- https://www.city.ashikaga.tochigi.jp/education/000029/000169/000627/p001307.html
- School Buildings (Omata Yoji Seikatsudan, in Japanese)
- https://omatayouji.org/introduction
Last verified: 2026.09.27
