About the Mikamo Family Residence Middle Gate and Earthen Wall
The Mikamo Family Residence Middle Gate and Earthen Wall (美甘家住宅中門及び土塀, Mikamo-ke Jūtaku Nakamon oyobi Dobei) is an early-Meiji garden gate and wall in Tokorogo, Daisen, Tottori Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 2009. Short as it is, it has a clear job: splitting the front garden of the main house in two.
It runs north and south from the line between the formal reception room and the Buddhist altar room of the main house, dividing the forecourt where guests arrived through the Front Gate from the private garden facing the reception room.
Construction of the Middle Gate and Earthen Wall
The wall is 7.8 m long in all. Square posts stand on foundation stones, with board wainscoting (Koshiita) below and Shikkui plaster above. Rather than a solid rammed-earth wall, it is a light post-and-panel structure.
The Middle Gate stands toward the north end of the wall. It is a 1.4 m Udekimon, a gate whose small gabled pantile roof rests on projecting arms, fitted with vertically slatted doors. The national database calls it a light, airy garden gate of the kind used on a path into a tea garden.
It dates from the early Meiji era and was registered as contributing to the historic landscape.
Why the Mikamo Middle Gate Is Worth a Closer Look
What makes the Mikamo Family Residence Middle Gate and Earthen Wall interesting is how closely it follows the plan of the house. Only the area in front of the formal rooms is walled off, reached through a narrow garden gate, so a single front garden serves both as a reception yard and as a view to be enjoyed from the reception room.
At 1.4 m, the gate is less than half the 3.0 m width of the Front Gate. The estate narrows as you go further in: a broad gate at the street, then an opening wide enough for one person.
Viewing the Mikamo Family Residence Middle Gate and Earthen Wall
The Mikamo Family Residence Middle Gate and Earthen Wall stands inside a private home's front garden and is not open to the public. From the street it lies beyond the Front Gate and the forecourt, so it is hard to see in full. Do not go through the Front Gate.
We found no official guidance on photography (checked October 2026).
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Tottori
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Mikamo Family Residence Middle Gate and Earthen Wall
- [ Tottori Sand Dunes & Camel Riding Experience ]
Q&A
- Where is the Mikamo Family Residence Middle Gate and Earthen Wall?
- In the front garden of the main house, running north and south from the line between the reception room and the altar room, between the forecourt and the inner garden.
- What kind of gate is the Mikamo Family Residence Middle Gate?
- A 1.4 m udekimon with a gabled pantile roof and vertically slatted doors, described as a light garden gate.
- How long is the wall of the Mikamo Family Residence Middle Gate and Earthen Wall?
- It is 7.8 m long, with square posts on foundation stones, board wainscoting below and plaster above.
- When was the Mikamo Family Residence Middle Gate and Earthen Wall built?
- The national database dates it to the early Meiji era. It was registered in 2009.
- Can I see the Mikamo Family Residence Middle Gate and Earthen Wall?
- Not up close. It is inside a private home's grounds and is hard to see from the street.
Basic Information
| Name | Mikamo Family Residence Middle Gate and Earthen Wall (美甘家住宅中門及び土塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 170 Maeda, Tokorogo, Daisen-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2009 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Gate opening 1.4 m; wall 7.8 m long |
| Owner | Not disclosed |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (inside the grounds) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: 美甘家住宅中門及び土塀
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007670
- Cultural Heritage Online: 美甘家住宅中門及び土塀
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/172972
- Daisen Town: Mikamo Family Residence (美甘家住宅)
- https://www.daisen.jp/10/33/1/s148/q166/
- Daisen Town: Tokorogo walking map (PDF, Japanese)
- https://www.daisen.jp/user/filer_public/ba/c4/bac418d0-931e-4930-b696-b2f5b865b94f/denken-tiku-panfu.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.01
