What Is the Seto Family Residence West Storehouse?
The Seto Family Residence West Storehouse (瀬戸家住宅西蔵, Seto-ke Jūtaku Nishigura) is a two-storey earthen-walled Dozo-zukuri storehouse for household goods at the northwest corner of the Seto family estate in Fujii, Fujita-cho, Gobo City, Wakayama Prefecture; it was built in the late Taisho period (1919 to 1926) and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2 November 2018. It covers 54 square meters.
It is the westernmost of the four outbuildings that line the north street. Its neighbor to the east, the grain storehouse, is almost the same size, but that building held rice; the Seto Family Residence West Storehouse was built to keep the family's household goods.
Anchoring the Corner
The Seto Family Residence West Storehouse has a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof in Hongawarabuki tiling, with the ridge running north to south. It turns its gable end to the north street and sits at right angles to the grain storehouse, whose ridge runs east to west.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as the core of the back of the estate, placed at the corner of the lot. It was registered under number 30-0243 for its contribution to the historic landscape. The row of storehouses along the street ends here, where the lot turns the corner.
The door is on the east side, sheltered by a Geya, a lean-to roof. The document storehouse and grain storehouse have only small canopies over their doors; here a lean-to roof shelters the area in front of the entrance. The walls are Shikkui plaster over a skirting of vertical boards, finished with a Hachimaki band under the eaves.
Moulded Brackets and Planed Roof Timbers
The finest detail on the Seto Family Residence West Storehouse is the set of brackets under the window canopies. These mochiokuri project from the wall to carry the canopy, and their ends are shaped with kurikata, carved profiles built up from a series of curves.
The care extends to places nobody sees. According to the agency, even the roof framing in the attic is finished with a hand plane. In most storehouses those timbers are left rough, and the planed members show how much effort the Seto family put into a building meant only for storage.
Visiting the Seto Family Residence West Storehouse
The Seto Family Residence West Storehouse is privately owned and its interior, including the planed roof framing, is closed.
Standing at the northwest corner of the estate on the north street, its exterior can be seen from the road. Please view it from the public road and do not enter the property.
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Q&A
- What is the Seto Family Residence West Storehouse?
- A two-storey earthen-walled storehouse for household goods at the northwest corner of the estate, with a gabled, fully tiled roof. It covers 54 square meters.
- When was the Seto Family Residence West Storehouse built?
- In the late Taisho period, between 1919 and 1926.
- What is special about the Seto Family Residence West Storehouse?
- The moulded brackets under its window canopies, and roof timbers that are planed smooth even in the attic, where they are never seen.
- When did the Seto Family Residence West Storehouse become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- On 2 November 2018, as registration number 30-0243, for its contribution to the historic landscape.
- Can I visit the Seto Family Residence West Storehouse?
- The interior is closed. It stands at the corner of the estate on the north street, so the exterior can be seen from the public road.
Basic Information
| Name | Seto Family Residence West Storehouse (瀬戸家住宅西蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2215 Fujii, Fujita-cho, Gobo City, Wakayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure), No. 30-0243 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2 November 2018 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 2-storey earthen-walled storehouse, tiled roof, building area 54 square meters |
| Owner | Private |
| Public Access | Closed to the public (exterior visible from the north street) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Seto Family Residence West Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012605
- Cultural Heritage Online: Seto Family Residence West Storehouse (Agency for Cultural Affairs, in Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/457909
- Seto Family Residence (Gobo City, in Japanese)
- https://www.city.gobo.lg.jp/sosiki/kyoikuiin/kyoiku/tanto/bunnkazai/shinobunkazai/kenzoubutu/1559723929300.html
- Seto Family Residence (Wakayama Cultural Heritage portal, Wakayama Prefectural Board of Education, in Japanese)
- https://wakayama-bunkazai.jp/bunkazai/bunkazai-spot-996/
Last verified: 2026.09.27
