About the Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse
The Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse (旧金岡家住宅土蔵, Kyū-Kanaoka-ke Jūtaku Dozō) is a two-storey Dozo-zukuri earthen storehouse built in the Meiji era (1868 to 1911) at 1-5-24 Shinjocho, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 1998.
It stands southeast of the main house. The tiled roof is gabled, and the entrance is on the long side (Hirairi). At 35 m² it is fairly small, and it held goods for the family's drug business.
A Small Storehouse That Holds the Estate Together
The Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse was registered as contributing to the historic landscape, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs counts it among the main elements of the estate.
A drug wholesaler's stock was raw ingredients and the chopped, ground and weighed-out products made from them. A store safe from damp and fire mattered as much as the shop itself, and a 35 m² storehouse close to the main house suits the constant coming and going of daily trade.
Timber Ends in the Gable
The feature to look for on the Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse is in the gable, the triangular end wall. The Agency notes that it leaves the ends of the purlins and the ridge beam (Munagi) exposed there, so the timbers that carry the roof show as a neat row high in the plastered wall.
Earthen storehouses are normally sealed in clay and plaster against fire, so showing the structure is a deliberate choice. The Agency says the Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse was given a different design from the storehouse next to it. Compare the two and you will see how differently a single family could dress its stores.
Visiting the Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse
Official sources do not say whether the interior of the Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse is open. Its exterior, and especially the exposed timbers in the gable, is easiest to find by looking towards the southeast side of the main house during your visit.
Ask at the Kanaoka-tei reception how close you can get. Opening days, admission and directions are on the Former Kanaoka Family Residence page.
Q&A
- When was the Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the Meiji era (1868 to 1911).
- What kind of building is the Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse?
- A two-storey earthen storehouse with a tiled gabled roof and a side entrance, 35 m² in area, southeast of the main house. It held goods for the drug business.
- Why is the Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered in 1998 as contributing to the historic landscape and as one of the main elements of the estate.
- What should I look for on the Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse?
- The purlin ends and ridge beam exposed in the gable, a design that sets it apart from the neighbouring storehouse.
- Can I go inside the Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse?
- Official sources do not say. Ask at the Kanaoka-tei reception.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Kanaoka Family Residence Storehouse (旧金岡家住宅土蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-5-24 Shinjocho, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 1998 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 35 m² (two-storey earthen storehouse) |
| Owner | Toyama Prefecture |
| Public Access | Estate open with admission as Kanaoka-tei (interior access unconfirmed) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): 旧金岡家住宅土蔵
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00000582
- Cultural Heritage Online (Agency for Cultural Affairs): 旧金岡家住宅土蔵
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/165892
- Toyama Cultural Heritage (Toyama Prefecture): 旧金岡家住宅土蔵
- https://toyama-bunkaisan.jp/search/2364/
Last verified: 2026.09.30
