About the Murano Family Residence Yakuimon Gate
The Murano Family Residence Yakuimon Gate (村野家住宅薬医門, Murano-ke Jūtaku Yakuimon) is an estate gate of 1881 in Yanagikubo 4-chome, Higashikurume City, Tokyo, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan on January 26, 2011. It is a single-bay Yakuimon, a gate type whose roof rests on two main posts backed by a pair of rear posts, with a gabled roof of copper sheet and an opening 2.6 meters wide.
The gate stands southeast of the main house at the southeast corner of the grounds and serves as the estate's front entrance. Higashikurume's Board of Education describes it as a fairly large gate made entirely of zelkova, presenting a solid, dignified face to the southeast.
Board Fences and a Wicket Door
Board fences run out on both sides of the Murano yakuimon, so the gate does not stand alone but closes off the whole front of the estate. On the east side is a Kugurido, a small wicket door that lets people pass without opening the main doors.
A 2.6-meter opening is wide for a gate with a single bay, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs singles out its relatively large scale. The size suits an entrance set against a backdrop of tall estate woodland.
From Tie Beam to Ridge
The framing that carries the roof is the part to study. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the tops of the two main posts are locked together by a Kabuki tie beam. A heavy main beam sits on that, with a further beam above it, and the ridge is held up by a Taiheizuka, a short bulging strut shaped like a vase, flanked by decorative Oigata boards.
Standing under the gate and looking up, you can follow the members as they step up from the tie beam through the beams and strut to the ridge. The eaves use two tiers of rafters, spaced widely apart.
Built Entirely of Zelkova
Every structural member of the Murano Family Residence Yakuimon Gate, from posts to beams, is Keyaki (Japanese zelkova), a hard, handsomely grained timber long favored for temple gates and the gates of important houses. The Agency calls it a gate of full, proper construction.
Built in 1881, after the Edo-period main house and storehouses were in place, it is the older of the estate's two registered gates. It is also the only registered structure at the Murano Family Residence that Higashikurume City describes as visible from the road.
Seeing the Murano Yakuimon
The yakuimon belongs to a private home, and the grounds beyond it are normally closed. Higashikurume City notes, however, that the gate and the estate woodland around it can be seen from the road, so on days without a tour this is the view most visitors will have. The buildings inside can be seen from outside on the spring and autumn special guided tours (checked September 2026). There is no official guidance on photography; if you take pictures from the road, keep the household beyond the gate out of the frame. Directions are on the Murano Family Residence page.
Q&A
- When was the Murano Family Residence Yakuimon Gate built?
- It was built in 1881.
- Can the Murano Family Residence Yakuimon Gate be seen from the road?
- Yes. Higashikurume City says the gate and the surrounding estate woodland are visible from the road. The grounds inside are normally closed (checked September 2026).
- How big is the Murano Family Residence Yakuimon Gate?
- It is a single-bay yakuimon with an opening 2.6 meters wide, relatively large for its type.
- What wood is the Murano Family Residence Yakuimon Gate made of?
- It is built entirely of zelkova (keyaki). The gabled roof is covered in copper sheet.
- How is the roof of the Murano Family Residence Yakuimon Gate supported?
- A tie beam locks the main posts, two beams are stacked above it, and a vase-shaped strut with decorative side boards carries the ridge. The eaves have two tiers of widely spaced rafters.
Basic Information
| Name | Murano Family Residence Yakuimon Gate |
|---|---|
| Location | 4-283 Yanagikubo, Higashikurume City, Tokyo |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2011 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Opening 2.6 m wide (timber, copper-sheet roof, with fences) |
| Owner | Kaneshichi Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Grounds normally closed (gate visible from the road) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Murano Family Residence Yakuimon Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008424
- Cultural Heritage Online: Murano Family Residence Yakuimon Gate
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/218560
- Higashikurume City: Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings) (Japanese)
- https://www.city.higashikurume.lg.jp/shisei/profile/bunkazai/1002392.html
- Higashikurume City Board of Education: Furusato o Arukō No. 27, Murano Family Residence (PDF, Japanese)
- https://www.city.higashikurume.lg.jp/_res/projects/default_project/_page_/001/001/891/27.pdf
- Tamaroku Navi (Tama-hokubu Toshi Kōiki Gyōsei-ken Kyōgikai): Murano Family Residence (Japanese)
- https://www.tama6.jp/meguri/place/post_40.html
Last verified: 2026.09.30
