What Is the Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten Pawn Storehouse?
The Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten Pawn Storehouse (旧丸中横仲商店質蔵, Kyū-Marunaka Yokonaka Shōten Shichigura) is a two-storey earthen storehouse in the Aramachi district of Nagai, Yamagata Prefecture, built in 1875 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 4 August 2015.
Its Japanese name, shichigura, means a pawn store. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the building is said to have held pledged goods during a period when the business ran a pawnshop alongside its wholesale trade. That set it apart from the Sugar and Flour storehouses, which held stock for sale.
It stands east of centre on the property, its ridge running east to west. With the Storehouse immediately to its west, it forms the middle of the site's three rows, and the Edo Storehouse lies to the north.
Built in the Dozo-zukuri earthen-wall manner, it has two storeys, an entrance on a long side (Hirairi) and an okiyane roof clad in sheet metal, a separate roof set over the sealed body. At 36 square metres it is the smallest of the five. Its registration number is 06-0156.
Why the Pawn Storehouse Was Registered
It was registered for contributing to the historic landscape of the country. The Council for Cultural Affairs report singled out the Pawn Storehouse and its neighbour, the Storehouse, for their use of black plaster at key points on white Shikkui walls.
Built a year after the Storehouse, the Pawn Storehouse copies its format, two storeys, long-side entrance, separate roof, but is a size smaller and treats its walls quite differently. The matched pair and the contrast between them are part of what makes the group worth looking at.
What to Look For: Tall Windows Spanning Two Floors
The feature to find is on the east wall. A row of tall windows runs across it, and each is closed by a double-leaf Tsuchido shutter that runs through both floors as a single leaf, rather than stopping at each storey. From outside, the result is a row of slender openings that split the wall vertically from ground floor to upper floor.
Each opening is framed in black plaster, which sharpens the vertical lines against the white wall. The Agency notes that the Edo Storehouse to the north has similar tall windows on its east side, so the two east faces make a natural comparison.
The okiyane roof is designed so that it can burn away in a fire while the sealed store below survives. For a building holding other people's belongings in trust, that protection mattered more than anything.
Visiting the Pawn Storehouse
The Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten Pawn Storehouse is privately owned, and neither the interior nor the grounds are open. It can only be seen from outside the property.
The window wall faces east. The prefectural tourism guide recommends viewing the storehouse group from the east side, and where the view is clear you can compare this wall with the east face of the Edo Storehouse beside it. Sight lines depend on the surrounding buildings, so check on site.
There is no official guidance on photography. Directions and general viewing conditions are on the Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten page.
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Q&A
- What kind of building is the Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten Pawn Storehouse?
- It is a two-storey earthen storehouse built in 1875, entered from a long side and covered by a separate okiyane roof. At 36 square metres it is the smallest of the five Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten storehouses.
- When was the Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten Pawn Storehouse registered as a cultural property?
- It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 4 August 2015, under registration number 06-0156, for contributing to the historic landscape of the country.
- What was the Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten Pawn Storehouse used for?
- According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, it is said to have held pledged goods when the business also operated as a pawnshop.
- What should I look for on the Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten Pawn Storehouse?
- The tall windows on the east wall, closed by double shutters that run through both floors as single leaves, each framed in black plaster.
- Can you go inside the Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten Pawn Storehouse?
- No. It is privately owned, and neither the interior nor the grounds are open to the public. Visitors can only view the exterior from outside the property.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten Pawn Storehouse (旧丸中横仲商店質蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2460 Aramachi and other lots, Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2015/8/4 (Heisei 27) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 36 square metres (2-storey earthen storehouse) |
| Owner | Private (individual owner) |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (interior and grounds closed) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten Pawn Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00010552
- Yamagata Prefecture heritage database: Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten Pawn Storehouse (Japanese)
- https://www.pref.yamagata.jp/cgi-bin/yamagata-takara/?m=detail&id=1869
- Agency for Cultural Affairs: Council for Cultural Affairs report on registrations (13 March 2015, Japanese)
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/shokai/yukei_kenzobutsu/pdf/bunkashingi_toshin_150313.pdf
- Yamagata Tourism Association: Former Marunaka Yokonaka Shoten Storehouse Group (Japanese)
- https://yamagatakanko.com/attractions/detail_11292.html
Last verified: 2026.09.26
