kura-zukuri 蔵造

An alternative term for *dozō-zukuri 土蔵造, the fireproof system of building construction used for a storehouse, kura 蔵 or *dozō 土蔵. The term kura-zukuri was particularly used when this construction system was applied to buildings other than storehouses, such as the main dwelling structure *hon'ya 本屋 of a homestead, or a shop *misegura 店蔵. The term was used in all parts of the country, but was especially common in Edo and in Kawagoe 川越 in Saitama Prefecture and Kitakata 喜多方 in Fukushima Prefecture.