蔵 | SHIZUOKA TOURISM

“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.

the other day as I was looking around Jirosho area in Shimizuoka, Shizuoka City for more old kuras, I almost missed this one peeking above a wooden gate!

i decided to put on my impertinent coat on and investigate at the risk of breaking somebody’s privacy!

It certainly looked very intriguing as it definitely seemed to be used in spite of his ancient look!

I checked the old door, but it was locked up!

I checked behind and found the dustbins sitting beside another door. Intriguing….

i was about to give up when I noticed another grand door with a sign saying Kita Shin Ishikura Gallery!
Well. well…
I was still about to leave when a grand lady just came out of the smae door.
I politely inquired what the kura was all about!

She kindly explained that at one time she was about to have the edifice pulled but friends convinced her to preserve it and even transform it into a kind a gallery space for rent!
The place inside is exquisite indeed with some very remarkable decoration made up with existing wood material inside!

Edo time rafters!

Unluckily the inside was a bit too dark for good photographing.
The lady also mentioned that private parties and concerts were also held there.
A place I will definitely have to visit again at length!

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