“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!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

“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.

An imposing kura!

This time I decided to visit Jirosho area in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, as it used to be a harbor at the mouth of Tomoe River. The sea access has since been built on and now the whole area is away from the sea along an extended Tomoe River mouth.

This particular kura is in very good repair in spite of its old rain water pipes!

Imposing windows!

Only the wooden lintels give an idea of its old age!

This particular one was completely isolated between other buildings and completely inaccessible!

Some of these kuras look almost brand new like the one above!

Since its facade has obviously just been repainted it is regularly used!

Even the roof is in great repair!

The roof peak has just been replaced!

An enormous and really ancient one wholly covered with ivy!

Although very old, it is still in good repair. The green pipes are so beautiful! Real antiques!

Unfortunately it was completely locked out!
I couldn’t find any indications of ownership…

Another one in good repair with a newly tiled roof!

Note the iron holds securing the roof onto the wall!

It is obviously used as part of a big property!

Must be used as a real warehouse, but for what?

I reported on this one before.
There is actually a kura fan club in Shimizu Ku who made up a map of all kuras with photos but the owners of that particular kura obtained its retrieval for privacy reasons!

The owners apparently do not want people to know about something…

Another kura disappearing between new buildings!

A real pity!

I discovered this inhabited one by chance along a narrow side street!

Someone is using an air conditioner inside!

But I couldn’t get access to the rest of it!

I discovered two more very interesting kuras but that is for two separate articles!

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

So Good Sushi Restaurant in Nice France
Navigating Nagoya by Paige, Shop with Intent by Debbie, BULA KANA in Fiji, Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento, Hapabento, Kitchen Cow, Lunch In A Box, Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Ohayo Bento,

Must-see tasting websites:

-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City