About the Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse
The Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse (新井家住宅内蔵, Arai-ke Jūtaku Uchigura) is a late Edo-period earthen-walled storehouse, built between 1830 and 1868, in Irumacho, Chofu City, Tokyo, and it was entered on Japan's register of Registered Tangible Cultural Properties on April 25, 2014.
It is attached to the back of the main house, behind the formal room, with a small room called the kuramae-zashiki in between, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as a former bunko-gura. The outer storehouse stands on its own across the front yard; the Arai inner storehouse, by contrast, is tucked into the house and was entered from indoors. With the main house, it is the oldest of the five registered structures.
A Storehouse for Documents and Heirlooms
A bunko-gura is, in general, the storehouse where a family kept books, deeds and its most valued possessions, as opposed to a granary. Its position fits that role. The family's records sat behind the room where guests were received, and went in and out through the kuramae-zashiki, and the way the Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse meets the main house still shows that routine.
Like the other four structures, it was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The basis is the part it plays, together with the main house, in a late Edo farm compound that survives as a whole.
How the Inner Storehouse Is Built
It measures three bays by two, with a building area of 20 m², the smallest building on the Arai property. It is a two-storey Dozo-zukuri storehouse entered from the long side (Hirairi). The gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof is an Okiyane, a separate roof set over the earthen body, and is now covered in sheet metal.
The walls are still bare earthen plaster, with a thick band, the Hachimaki, run around them under the eaves. Compared with the outer storehouse, whose walls have a washed mortar finish, the inner storehouse keeps much more of the texture of a late Edo kura.
The west gable end is the part to look at. Its upper window has Tsuchido, heavy plastered shutters closed in case of fire, with a small Hisashi canopy above. Inside, the roof is carried on Nobori-bari, sloping beams that rise with the roof.
Seeing the Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse
The Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse sits at the back of the main house, behind the formal room, and whether any of it can be seen from outside could not be confirmed. No interior opening or photography guidance has been announced (checked October 2026). Directions and contact details are on the Arai Family Residence page.
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Q&A
- When was the Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse built, and when was it registered?
- It dates from the late Edo period (1830 to 1868) and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on April 25, 2014.
- What was the Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse used for?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as a former bunko-gura, a storehouse for documents and valuables. It is attached behind the main house's formal room through the kuramae-zashiki.
- How big is the Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse?
- Three bays by two, with a building area of 20 m². It is a two-storey earthen-walled storehouse with a gabled okiyane roof covered in sheet metal.
- What should I look for on the Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse?
- The west gable end, where the upper window has plastered tsuchido shutters and a small canopy. The walls are earthen plaster with a hachimaki band under the eaves.
- Can I visit the Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse?
- No opening has been announced (checked October 2026). It stands behind the main house, and its visibility from outside is unconfirmed.
Basic Information
| Name | Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse (新井家住宅内蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-4 Irumacho, Chofu City, Tokyo |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | 2014 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 3 bays by 2 bays, building area 20 m² |
| Owner | The Arai family (blank in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database) |
| Public Access | Not open (no visiting arrangements announced) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009924
- Cultural Heritage Online: Arai Family Residence Inner Storehouse (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/232351
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Arai Family Residence Outer Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009925
- Chofu City: List of Designated and Registered Cultural Properties, PDF as of April 1, 2026 (Japanese)
- https://www.city.chofu.lg.jp/documents/2369/bunnkazai08.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.01
