An Early Meiji Gate at the Back of the House
The Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen North Gate (風間家旧別邸無量光苑北門, Kitamon) is a bracket-armed gate from the early Meiji period in the northwest corner of the Muryokoen villa in Izumimachi, Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 1 July 2003. It has a sheet-metal roof and is about 2.1 metres wide.
It stands about 3.6 metres back from the old moat that marks the north edge of the grounds. Where the front gate faces the street and signals rank, this one handled the comings and goings at the back of the house.
The official record places it in the early Meiji period, earlier than the Shakado of 1910 and the front and middle gates of about the same date. It may have stood here before the villa took its present form, but no published record explains its history.
Why It Was Registered
The Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen North Gate was registered, as number 06-0056, as a model of design. Of the villa's three gates, it is the only one registered on that criterion.
The official description calls it a plain, small gate but one carefully made on unusually large foundation stones, with metalwork and other details that reward a close look. It earns its quality through sound materials and precise joinery rather than ornament.
The doorway holds a pair of hinged board doors. Above the crossbeam, the space is closed off with tasuki-zan, battens crossed diagonally like an X. On an otherwise plain gate, that diagonal cross is one of the few accents on the front.
What to Look For
Look down first. The foundation stones under the posts are big for a gate of this size, and they tell you the builders wanted it planted firmly in the ground.
Then look at the doors. They hang on pivots, and long strap fittings, hassō kanagu, run across the boards to reinforce them, studded with domed bosses called manjū kanagu. They are working hardware, but shaped with care, and they are exactly the details the official description singles out.
Finally look up at the crossed battens above the beam. The X gives the plain board doors below a clear, firm top line.
Visiting the North Gate
The Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen North Gate stands in the northwest corner of the grounds. To see it, enter the villa during the open season and make your way to the back of the garden.
Crouch a little to see the foundation stones and fittings properly. The outer side faces the moat, so whether it can be approached from outside depends on conditions on the ground.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Yamagata
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen North Gate
- [ Yamadera Temple & Zao Onsen Hot Springs ]
Q&A
- Where is the Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen North Gate?
- In the northwest corner of the Muryokoen grounds, about 3.6 metres back from the moat along the north edge.
- When was the Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen North Gate built and registered?
- It is dated to the early Meiji period and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 1 July 2003, registration number 06-0056.
- Is the Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen North Gate older than the Shakado?
- The national record places it in the early Meiji period, earlier than the Shakado, which was built in 1910.
- What is special about the Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen North Gate?
- The oversized foundation stones, the strap hinges and domed bosses on its double board doors, and the crossed battens above the beam.
- How do I see the Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen North Gate?
- Enter the villa during the open season and walk to the northwest corner at the back of the garden.
Basic Information
| Name | Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen North Gate (風間家旧別邸無量光苑北門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 6-20 Izumimachi, Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2003/07/01 (Heisei 15) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, sheet-metal roof, 2.1 metres wide |
| Owner | Kokunensha Public Interest Foundation |
| Public Access | Inside the grounds; visible during the open season, 15 April to 30 November (admission charged) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties — 風間家旧別邸無量光苑北門
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00003350
- Cultural Heritage Online — 風間家旧別邸無量光苑北門
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/188080
- Tsuruoka City Board of Education — List of Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (PDF)
- https://www.city.tsuruoka.lg.jp/bunka/rekishi/shitei-bunka-ichiran.files/15_registeredtangibleculturalproperties.pdf
- Heishindo (Kokunensha) — Muryokoen Shakado
- https://heishindo.jp/shakado/
- Heishindo (Kokunensha) — Visitor Information
- https://heishindo.jp/guide/
Last verified: 2026.09.25
