The Storehouse at the South End of the Street Front
The Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse (旧戸田家住宅西蔵, Kyū Toda-ke Jūtaku Nishigura) 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, in the compound of the Toda family of net makers, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2016.
It stands south of the main house with its gable end to the street. The plan is a square, 5.9 meters on each side, giving a building area of 35 square meters, and the slightly larger East Storehouse stands next to it. Along the street, the Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse closes the south end of the compound's front just as the net factory closes the north end.
Why the West Storehouse Was Registered
The Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse was registered for its contribution to the historic townscape: its gable, together with the net factory and main house, forms part of the street scene of old Hiro. The Wakayama Prefectural Board of Education picks out the two storehouses for their striking Namako-kabe, walls faced with square tiles and raised lines of plaster.
Structurally, a timber sill sits on foundation stones, with posts set every half ken, roughly every 90 centimeters. It is a thick-walled storehouse built over a closely spaced timber frame. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the roof is Hongawarabuki, the heavy alternating pattern of flat and round tiles, which gives the small square building real weight.
What to Look For
The walls change from face to face. Only the north side, facing the main house, is finished in namako-kabe; the others, including the gable on the street, are clad in Tateita-bari vertical boards. The upper walls are plastered in Shikkui, with a Hachimaki band of plaster running round the top. So the Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse shows a plain boarded gable to the street, and its tiled north wall only in the gap toward the main house.
Inside, the finishes differ by floor as well: vertical boarding on the ground floor and lime plaster upstairs. Boarding the inner walls generally protects stored goods from the clay, and the contrast with the plastered upper floor suggests the two levels were used differently.
Visiting the Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse
Because its gable faces the street, the exterior of the Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse can be seen from the road, as the prefectural board of education confirms (as of July 2026). The interior has been converted into a guest room of Isari, open only to overnight guests. According to the official website, both Toda storehouses are now 2-story guest rooms with an open void inside, a Japanese cypress bath, and space for up to four guests.
Room bookings close one week ahead. Directions to the compound are on the Former Toda Family Residence page.
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Q&A
- What is the Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse?
- The Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse is a 2-story earthen-walled storehouse built in the early Shōwa period, between 1926 and 1945, in the Toda family compound. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on November 29, 2016.
- How large is the Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse and how is it built?
- It is a 5.9-meter square with a building area of 35 square meters. A timber sill rests on foundation stones with posts every half ken, and the roof is laid with alternating flat and round tiles.
- What is special about the walls of the Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse?
- The north wall facing the main house is namako-kabe tile-and-plaster work, the other walls are vertical boarding, and the upper walls are plastered with a band around the top.
- Can I see the Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse from the street?
- Yes. Its gable faces the street, so the exterior is visible from the road. The interior is now a guest room and only overnight guests can enter.
- How does the west storehouse of the Toda residence differ from the east one?
- The West Storehouse is a 5.9-meter square of 35 square meters; the East Storehouse is a slightly longer rectangle of 44 square meters. Their walls are almost the same, but the east one varies its tile pattern from wall to wall.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Toda Family Residence West 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: 35 m²; 5.9 m by 5.9 m |
| Owner | Hirogawa Town |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable from the road; interior for overnight guests only (reservation required) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00011393
- Cultural Heritage Online: Former Toda Family Residence West Storehouse
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/292970
- 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
