Permanent Exhibition

Exhibition of Gilt Roof Tiles for Viewing by the General Public

―Historical Evidence from 400 Years Ago―

Gilt Roof Tiles

Manufactured during the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568-1600), these gilt roof tiles are precious assets of Japan.
To enable a broader audience to benefit from this find, we exhibit the tiles at our Headquarters for viewing by the general public.

Gilt Roof Tiles

―Gold-Leaf Tiles Unearthed in the Ruins of Fushimi Castle―

The gilt roof tiles exhibited here were unearthed in March 1999 during the construction of the private residence of our founder Kazuhiko Bandoh in Momoyama Chikuzen Daimachi, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto-shi. The tiles unearthed at the site included nearly 100 tiles that are beautifully decorated with gold leaf, such as large “onigawara” (gargoyle tiles) and “kazarigawara” (decorative tiles) that are believed to have been used to decorate the top of Fushimi Castle, and “noki-marugawara” (round eave tiles) and “noki-hiragawara” (flat eave tiles) mounted along the eaves. Some of these tiles are exhibited at the Headquarters.

Unearthed “Gold-Leaf Tiles”

The following are some of the “gold-leaf tiles” that were unearthed at the abovementioned site.

Kamon Noki-Hiragawara (flat eave tile in a flower pattern)

Onigawara (gargoyle tile)

Oniita (decorative tile in a chrysanthemum pattern)

Kikkamon Noki-Marugawara (round eave tile in a chrysanthemum pattern)

Kirimon Noki-Marugawara (round eave tile in a paulownia pattern)

Kazarigawara (decorative tile in a goshichi-no-kiri paulownia pattern)

Omodakamon Onigawara (gargoyle tile with an arrowhead leaf pattern)

Toribusuma (bird perch tile in a paulownia pattern)

Gold-Leaf Tiles Representing the Stunning Culture of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period

The location of Fushimi Castle and the site where the gilt gold tiles were unearthed (The photo shows the excavation site.)

The location of Fushimi Castle and the site where the gilt gold tiles were unearthed (The photo shows the excavation site.)

Momoyama district is the place where Fushimi Castle was built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1600). Hideyoshi, as the most powerful man of the Warring States Period, used Kyoto as a base to show off his successful unification of the country. He had an earthen embankment and moat constructed to surround the entire city of Kyoto, which is called “Odoi.” In addition, he ordered the construction of Jurakudai Castle in the center of the city, and the Hokoji-temple Daibutsuden ("Giant Buddha" Pavilion) at Higashiyama Shichijo, which is larger than the Daibutsuden at Todaiji temple in Nara. Covering all of the internal and external surfaces of these newly constructed buildings were elaborate decorations representing the best designs of the time.

The roof eaves of Jurakudai and Fushimi castles, which were constructed with gold-leaf tiles, must have looked shiny from a distance. These gilt roof tiles certainly represent the stunning culture of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.

Information for Visitors

Address Floor 6, Headquarters of Towa Corporation
5 Kamichoshi-cho, Kamitoba, Minami-Ku, Kyoto
Opening hours 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and holidays of TOWA Corporation
For more information General Affairs Section, Administration Division, Headquarters
TEL: +81 75-692-0250　FAX: +81 75-692-0270
Access
  • Approx. 15 minutes' walk from Jujo Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line
  • Approx. 20 minutes' walk from Jujo Station on the Subway Karasuma Line
  • Approx. 5 minutes' walk from Shimin Bousai Center bus stop of the Kyoto City Bus
    (Take the bus at the Kyoto Ekimae bus stop in front of Kyoto Station.)
  • Approx. 10 minutes by taxi from the Hachijo Exit of JR Kyoto Station

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