About the Sakaguchi Family Residence Earthen Floor Storehouse
The Sakaguchi Family Residence Earthen Floor Storehouse (坂口家住宅土間倉, Sakaguchi-ke Jūtaku Domagura) is a single-story wooden storehouse with a partial basement, built in 1892 midway along the east side of the Sakaguchi Family Residence in Odakamachi, Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture, and it was registered as a national Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2009.
It measures 11 meters long and 3.0 meters deep, with a building area of 26 square meters and a tiled roof. It stands just south of the Main House kitchen and has a toilet at its north end. Built in the same year as the Main House, it is among the oldest buildings on the property.
Why the Sakaguchi Domagura Was Registered
The Sakaguchi Family Residence Earthen Floor Storehouse was registered with the Main House and three other structures as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property that contributes to the historic landscape. Its registration number is 31-0144, dated April 28, 2009.
Tottori Prefecture singles it out in its summary as the storehouse with a basement. It sits out of sight from the streets, but right behind the kitchen, handling fuel and preserved food for the household. It shows how work was divided among the buildings of a merchant compound.
What to Look For at the Sakaguchi Domagura
An earth-floored shed and a raised room
Inside, the Sakaguchi Family Residence Earthen Floor Storehouse is split into two parts. The southern half is an earth-floored shed, and the northern half is a room with a raised wooden floor and a ceiling of boards laid over thin rods (saobuchi tenjō). In a building only 3 meters wide, a workspace for outdoor shoes and a room you step up into sit end to end.
A cellar for charcoal and pickles
Beneath the northern room is a cellar. The Agency for Cultural Affairs records that it held charcoal and pickles, using the steady temperature underground to store fuel and preserved food. Placed beside the kitchen, the storehouse clearly served the daily cooking of the house.
Plaster and vertical boards
The walls are of Shinkabe construction, with the posts left exposed, finished in Shikkui lime plaster above vertical boarding at waist height. The Gate and Wall on the street use the same pairing, so the inner and outer faces of the compound share one finish.
Viewing the Sakaguchi Domagura
The Sakaguchi Family Residence Earthen Floor Storehouse stands inside the grounds, midway along the east side, and does not face a street. The interior is not open and there are no viewing opportunities (checked October 2, 2026). Its cellar and rooms are known through the descriptions published by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Yonago City.
The name is read "domagura" by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Tottori Prefecture, while Yonago City gives "domakura." Directions to the property are on the Sakaguchi Family Residence page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Tottori
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Sakaguchi Family Residence Earthen Floor Storehouse
- [ Tottori Sand Dunes & Camel Riding Experience ]
Q&A
- When was the Sakaguchi Family Residence Earthen Floor Storehouse built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to 1892, the same year as the Main House. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2009.
- What was the cellar of the Sakaguchi Domagura used for?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the cellar under the northern room was used to store charcoal and pickles.
- What is inside the Sakaguchi Earthen Floor Storehouse?
- The southern half is an earth-floored shed and the northern half is a room with a wooden floor and a rod-and-board ceiling. A toilet is attached at the north end.
- How big is the Sakaguchi Domagura?
- It is 11 meters by 3.0 meters, a single-story wooden building with a partial basement and a building area of 26 square meters.
- Can visitors see the Sakaguchi Earthen Floor Storehouse?
- No. It stands inside the grounds and its interior is not open to the public.
Basic Information
| Name | Sakaguchi Family Residence Earthen Floor Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 13 Odakamachi, Yonago City, Tottori Prefecture, and others |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered in 2009 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-story wooden building with partial basement, 11 meters by 3.0 meters, building area 26 square meters |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (stands inside the grounds) |
References
- Sakaguchi Family Residence Earthen Floor Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007660
- Sakaguchi Family Residence Earthen Floor Storehouse (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/172962
- Registered Tangible Cultural Properties: Sakaguchi Family Residence (Yonago City, in Japanese)
- https://www.city.yonago.lg.jp/36441.htm
- Sakaguchi Family Residence (Tottori Cultural Properties Navi, Tottori Prefecture, in Japanese)
- https://db.pref.tottori.jp/bunkazainavi.nsf/bunkazai_web_view/2E80ED6BA3408FCE4925796F0008007E
Last verified: 2026.10.02
