About the Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed
The Former Uchiyama Family Residence Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed (旧内山家住宅人力車おき場・車夫小屋・炭小屋) is a single-storey wooden outbuilding from the end of the Meiji era at 903 Miyao, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 1998.
The Former Uchiyama Family Residence Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed is a long, narrow building running north to south, with its entrance on the long side, attached to the northwest part of the main house. It covers 58 m² and, as its name says, combines a place for the family's rickshaw, a hut for the men who pulled it, and a store for charcoal.
A Wing That Divides Front from Back
The Former Uchiyama Family Residence Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. What the Agency for Cultural Affairs stresses is the part it plays in the estate.
Seen from the front of the estate, the wing stretches north from the main house, dividing the front garden from the working yard behind and blocking the view between them. As the screen between the side guests saw and the side where servants worked, it is a key element of the layout, the Agency says.
A Meiji Landlord's Daily Life
The rickshaw shed and drivers' hut of the Former Uchiyama Family Residence Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed reflect the Uchiyama family at the height of its wealth as landlords in the Meiji era. The names alone tell us that the head of the house travelled by rickshaw and kept men to pull it.
The charcoal shed stored fuel for the hearths and braziers. Transport and heating, two things a large household depended on every day, sat right beside the main house.
Seeing the Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed
View the Former Uchiyama Family Residence Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed from the front garden and notice how the long wing hides the working yard. Walk round the back to see how it relates to the well house and the niwa workshop.
Whether the interior is open could not be confirmed from official sources, so ask at the reception. Opening days and admission are on the Former Uchiyama Family Residence (Toyama) page. No official guidance on photography could be found as of September 2026, so ask at the reception.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Toyama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Former Uchiyama Family Residence Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed
- [ Kurobe Gorge Train & Tateyama Alpine Route ]
Q&A
- When was the Former Uchiyama Family Residence Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the end of the Meiji era.
- What is the Former Uchiyama Family Residence Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed?
- A long single-storey wooden building of 58 m² combining a rickshaw shed, a hut for the rickshaw pullers and a charcoal store.
- Why is the Former Uchiyama Family Residence Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered in 1998 for its contribution to the historic landscape, because it divides the front garden from the working yard and is a key part of the estate layout.
- Where is the Former Uchiyama Family Residence Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed?
- Attached to the northwest part of the main house.
- What does the Former Uchiyama Family Residence Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed tell us?
- That the Meiji-era head of the family travelled by rickshaw and employed pullers, among other details of a landlord's life.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Uchiyama Family Residence Rickshaw Shed, Drivers' Hut and Charcoal Shed (旧内山家住宅人力車おき場・車夫小屋・炭小屋) |
|---|---|
| Location | 903 Miyao, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 1998 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 58 m² (wooden, single storey) |
| Owner | Toyama Prefecture |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable within the grounds (admission charged, as Gōnō no Yakata Uchiyama-tei) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): 旧内山家住宅人力車おき場・車夫小屋・炭小屋
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00000572
- Cultural Heritage Online: 旧内山家住宅人力車おき場・車夫小屋・炭小屋
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/165882
Last verified: 2026.09.30
