“Kura” (in Japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.
If you get off at Rokugo JR Station (六合駅) and walk towards Shimada City you will discover two kuras before you reach the Tochiyama Bridge (栃山橋) over theOotsuya River (大津谷川).
The Tochiyama Bridge (栃山橋)
You will find the first not halfway from Rokugo Station!
It is standing beside a very large traditional Japanese house which seems unoccupied but the kura itself is in good repair and obviously used by local farmers. It must have been owned by the former rich owners of the house.
The windows were kept open, a sure sign of use!
Back view.
All the walls and roof are in very good repair.
Side view.
Front angled view.
Unfortunately it was very difficult to access.
Very little space between the door and the house!
Beautiful pinion!
Well maintained rain drainage!
I really wished I could have gone inside!
You will find the second one your left just before the bridge!
Very old and slightly derelict it is still very much in use!
It is comparatively very big with a lot of roofing!
It certainly needs a good scrub and re-plastering!
Very long!
I suspect it is being used as a warehouse by local tea growers!
Only the back has been clearly repaired!
Mind you, the whole edifice still looks very very strong!
The original pinion is still there!
I’ve always wondered what these contraptions are for!
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