A Brick Wall Around a Japanese House
The Yamasaki Family Residence Wall (山﨑家住宅塀, Yamasaki-ke Jūtaku Hei) is a brick boundary wall built in the late Taishō period (1919 to 1926) around all four sides of the Yamasaki family estate in Kokawa, Kinokawa City, Wakayama Prefecture, and listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on February 4, 2021. It runs for 130 meters and traces the outline of the whole property just north of JR Kokawa Station.
Behind it stand the Yamasakis' main house and two earthen storehouses. What catches the eye is the choice of material: a thoroughly Japanese house and its kura, enclosed not by plaster or timber fencing but by red brick. The national register gives the wall's address with the old district name, 853-3 Higashitorii, Kokawa.
Four Sides, Four Characters
The Yamasaki Family Residence Wall is built of brick, with tiles on part of it. Read the Agency for Cultural Affairs description closely and you find that each side of the enclosure has its own finish and job.
The south front faces the street. It is pierced by the main gateway and a side entrance, and topped with a little roof of pan tiles. The two sources place the gateway slightly differently: the national database says the center of the south side, the prefecture says center, toward the east. The side entrance sits at the west end. This is the face of the house, and the tile coping ties it visually to the Japanese buildings inside.
The west side, bordering the neighbor, was raised higher as a firebreak. On the east side the wall carries a mortar coping, and in places pilasters stand out on the outer face. At the back, on the north, the stretches of wall on either side of the storehouse are rendered in mortar.
Why It Was Registered
The Yamasaki Family Residence Wall was registered on February 4, 2021 (registration no. 30-0298) under the criterion of contributing to the historic landscape of the nation, on the same day as the main house and both storehouses.
The national description credits the wall with giving the edge of the estate its composed appearance. Since everything else sits behind it, the wall is what passers-by see first and see longest. Wakayama Prefecture praises how well the Taishō layout of the estate survives, and an almost unbroken 130-meter perimeter is the frame that holds that layout together.
What to Look For
This is the one part of the estate you can fully appreciate from outside. On the south side, study the tile-capped brick, the gateway and the side door at the west end; walk around to the east to find the mortar coping and pilasters. Comparing the sides tells you which faces were meant to impress and which were built for fire safety or simply to mark the boundary.
The big wooden gate in the gateway is not original. According to the café operator, it collapsed in Typhoon Jebi (Typhoon No. 21) in September 2018 and was rebuilt with donations from supporters. The brick on either side is Taishō work.
Seeing the Wall
Of the estate's four registered structures, the Yamasaki Family Residence Wall is the only one you can look at any time from outside. The south side faces the street by the station, and the east side can be checked from the lane that runs around the lot. Please keep your hands off the brick and stay on the street.
The inner faces can be seen only on days when the café in the main house is open and the grounds are accessible. Ask the staff before walking over to the high west wall or the mortar-rendered stretches at the back. Directions are on the Yamasaki Family Residence page.
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Q&A
- When was the Yamasaki Family Residence Wall built?
- In the late Taishō period, between 1919 and 1926. It was listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) on February 4, 2021.
- How long is the Yamasaki Family Residence Wall?
- It runs for 130 meters around all four sides of the estate. The south side carries a tile coping, the west side was built higher as a firebreak, and the east side has a mortar coping.
- Can anyone see the Yamasaki Family Residence Wall?
- Yes. The south and east sides can be seen from the surrounding streets at any time. For the inner faces, ask the staff on café days how far into the grounds you may go.
- Is the gate in the Yamasaki Family Residence Wall original?
- No. The operator reports that the wooden gate collapsed in Typhoon Jebi in September 2018 and was rebuilt with support from donors. The brick wall on either side dates from the Taishō period.
- What kind of cultural property is the Yamasaki Family Residence Wall?
- It was listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) on February 4, 2021, as registration no. 30-0298. The main house and both storehouses inside it were registered the same day.
Basic Information
| Name | Yamasaki Family Residence Wall (山﨑家住宅塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 853-3 Higashitorii, Kokawa, Kinokawa City, Wakayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2021/2/4 (Reiwa 3) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Brick, partly tile-capped, total length 130 meters |
| Owner | Private (individual) |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the street |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Yamasaki Family Residence Wall
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00013628
- Wakayama Cultural Heritage portal (Wakayama Prefectural Board of Education): Yamasaki Family Residence
- https://wakayama-bunkazai.jp/bunkazai/bunkazai-spot-1002/
- Hajime Cafe: About the Yamasaki House
- https://hajime-cafe.jimdofree.com/%E5%8F%A4%E6%B0%91%E5%AE%B6%E5%B1%B1%EF%A8%91%E9%82%B8
Last verified: 2026.09.24
