A term for an alcove or recess of the *oshi-ita 押板 type found in traditional vernacular farmhouses nōka 農家 of the 17th-18th century in Yamanashi, parts of Kanagawa Prefecture, central Tokyo, and Miyazaki Prefecture. Located in the partition between the living room adjacent to the earth-floored area *doma 土間, and the sleeping room *nando 納戸, to the rear of the master's seat *yokoza 横座, by the sunken hearth *irori 囲炉裏.
Like the oshi-ita, it was usually a bay in width, but very shallow. The baseboard ji-ita 地板, was no wider than the depth of the posts, about 15 cm, and was about 20 cm above the surface of the floor. The back wall was panelled in timber. The name teppōdoko is said to be derived from the fact that the master's gun teppō 鉄砲, and sword katana 刀, were displayed in the recess. An extra shelf *tana 棚, with slots cut into its side, was often added to support them.