The Household Storehouse
The Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse (旧戸田家住宅東蔵, Kyū Toda-ke Jūtaku Higashigura) in Hiro, Hirogawa Town, Wakayama Prefecture, is a 2-story Dozo-zukuri earthen-walled storehouse built in the early Shōwa period, between 1926 and 1945, for the household goods of the Toda family of net makers, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2016.
It stands beside the West Storehouse, on its east side, and with a building area of 44 square meters it is the larger of the pair. The Agency for Cultural Affairs records the tradition that the Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse held the family's household possessions, keeping the domestic side of the business apart from the work in the net factory.
Why the East Storehouse Was Registered
The Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic townscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs sees it as part of the scenery of Hiro, a district that grew prosperous on fishing.
Its outer walls are almost identical to those of the West Storehouse, but its plan is not. Where the West Storehouse is a 5.9-meter square, the Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse is a rectangle, a little longer in one direction, and even the base dimension used to space the posts differs between its length and its width. The builders did not simply repeat one design twice; they worked out each storehouse's proportions on its own.
What to Look For
The thing to see is the Namako-kabe tile-and-plaster work on the lower walls. It covers the north and east sides, but in two different patterns. On the north wall the square tiles are set on the diagonal, at 45 degrees, a pattern called shihan-bari. On the east wall they run straight, with the joints forming a continuous horizontal and vertical grid, called imo-bari.
The two patterns meet at the northeast corner, where a diagonal lattice turns into a square one. Stand at that corner and you can compare both at once. It is no surprise that the prefectural board of education names these walls as what makes the two storehouses memorable.
Visiting the Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse
The Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse sits east of the West Storehouse and is probably hard to see from the street, screened by the West Storehouse and the main house; its patterned north and east walls also face into the compound. As of July 2026, the prefectural board of education states that only people using the facility may enter the buildings.
According to the official website, both Toda storehouses have been converted into 2-story guest rooms with an open void and a Japanese cypress bath. Room bookings close one week ahead. Directions to the compound are on the Former Toda Family Residence page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Wakayama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse
- [ Koyasan & Kumano Kodo World Heritage Trails ]
Q&A
- What was the Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse used for?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse is said to have held the family's household goods. It is a 2-story earthen-walled storehouse of the early Shōwa period, between 1926 and 1945, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on November 29, 2016.
- What should I look for on the walls of the Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse?
- The tile-and-plaster namako-kabe on the lower walls. On the north side the tiles are set diagonally (shihan-bari), on the east side in a straight grid (imo-bari), and the two patterns meet at the northeast corner.
- How does the Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse differ from the West Storehouse?
- The walls are almost the same, but the West Storehouse is a 5.9-meter square of 35 square meters, while the East Storehouse is a slightly longer rectangle of 44 square meters with different post spacing along its length and width.
- Can I see the Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse from the street?
- Probably not well. It stands east of the West Storehouse, screened by that building and the main house, and its patterned walls face into the compound.
- Can I stay in the east storehouse of the Toda residence in Hirogawa?
- Both Toda storehouses are now guest rooms with an open void and a Japanese cypress bath. Only overnight guests can enter; book at least one week ahead.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 1347 Hiro, Hirogawa-cho, Arida-gun, Wakayama Prefecture, and other locations |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered on November 29, 2016 (Heisei 28) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area: 44 m² |
| Owner | Hirogawa Town |
| Public Access | Interior for overnight guests only (reservation required); hard to see from the street |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00011394
- Cultural Heritage Online: Former Toda Family Residence East Storehouse
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/245511
- Wakayama Prefectural Board of Education: Case 2, Former Toda Family Residence (PDF, Japanese)
- https://www.pref.wakayama.lg.jp/prefg/500700/d00219867_d/fil/02.pdf
- Hotel Isari and Restaurant/Cafe Shioka official website (Japanese)
- https://shioka-isari.com/
Last verified: 2026.10.07
