Sixty-Two Metres Along the Street
The Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen Board Fence (風間家旧別邸無量光苑板塀, Itabei) is a timber fence of about 1910 that closes the west side of the Muryokoen villa in Izumimachi, Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture; it was relocated in 1954 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 1 July 2003. It has a sheet-metal capping roof and runs 62 metres.
The fence follows the western boundary in a single straight line along the street. It stands about 2.1 metres high, with one doorway fitted with a large door, an ōdo, toward its northern end. Of the six Muryokoen structures, it is the one passers-by see most of.
It dates from around 1910 and was moved to its present line in 1954. The national record does not say where it stood before or why it was moved.
Why It Was Registered
The Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen Board Fence was registered, as number 06-0057, for its contribution to the historic townscape.
The official description calls it a plain fence of vertical boards under a small roof, but notes that its long, unbroken run along the street is what defines the look of the property. No single board is decorated; the 62 metres are the point, announcing the reach of a wealthy merchant's villa to everyone who walks by.
The construction is solid. A timber sill rests on foundation stones, posts stand every 1.8 metres, four tiers of through-rails, nuki, lock them together, and raking braces on the inside keep the whole run from leaning.
What to Look For
Stand at one end of the fence and sight along it. The eave line of the little roof and the vertical boards march away at the same height and the same spacing, and because the posts are evenly set, the boarding takes on a steady rhythm.
The doorway near the north end is almost the only interruption. Note where it is before you walk the length of the fence, and it is easy to picture where people came and went on the west side of the villa.
Once inside the villa, look at the fence from the garden side. The braces that cannot be seen from the street are set at regular intervals along its length.
Visiting the Board Fence
The Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen Board Fence lines the street on the west side of the grounds, so its outer face can be seen at any time. To see the braces on the inside, enter the villa during the open season.
At 62 metres it is hard to fit into one frame head-on; a diagonal view from one end works better for photographs. Keep to the side of the road so as not to block traffic.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen Board Fence
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Q&A
- How long is the Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen Board Fence?
- It runs 62 metres and stands about 2.1 metres high, closing the west side of the grounds in a straight line along the street.
- When was the Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen Board Fence built and registered?
- It dates from about 1910, was relocated in 1954, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 1 July 2003, registration number 06-0057.
- How is the Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen Board Fence built?
- A sill on foundation stones carries posts set every 1.8 metres, tied by four tiers of through-rails and braced on the inside, with vertical boards under a small roof.
- Can I see the Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen Board Fence without a ticket?
- Yes. It faces the street, so the outer side is visible at any time. The inner braces can be seen only from inside the villa during the open season.
- Why was the Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen Board Fence registered?
- Its long, straight run along the street defines the look of the villa and was judged to contribute to the historic townscape.
Basic Information
| Name | Kazama Family Former Villa Muryokoen Board Fence (風間家旧別邸無量光苑板塀) |
|---|---|
| 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, 62 metres long |
| Owner | Kokunensha Public Interest Foundation |
| Public Access | Outer side visible from the street; inner side 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板塀
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00003351
- Cultural Heritage Online — 風間家旧別邸無量光苑板塀
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/140621
- 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) — Visitor Information
- https://heishindo.jp/guide/
Last verified: 2026.09.25
