An automated warehouse comprising: shelves including a plurality of placement portions arranged horizontally and vertically, the placement portions including upper surfaces on which an article can be placed; and a transfer device arranged to hold an upper portion of the article and transfer the article; wherein the transfer device includes: a vertical rail including an upper end positioned adjacent to a supporting surface of a top placement portion; and a hand member vertically movable along the vertical rail and including a vertical arm having a length such that the vertical arm can hold the upper portion of the article placed on the top placement portion; and the upper end of the vertical rail is positioned no higher than the supporting surface of the top placement portion, characterized in that the vertical arm has a length which is longer than a vertical distance between a pair of the placement portions arranged vertically, and the automated warehouse further comprises four columns provided at four corners of the shelves, where the columns comprise upper portions, which are removable, a first cover provided at the shelves, and a second cover corresponding to the upper portions of the columns and removably disposed on the shelves, the second cover being arranged to surround a circumference of the article placed on the top placement portion, and an upper end of the second cover being located at a position no lower than an upper surface of the article when placed on the top placement portion. shelves including a plurality of placement portions arranged horizontally and vertically, the placement portions including upper surfaces on which an article can be placed; and a transfer device arranged to hold an upper portion of the article and transfer the article; wherein the transfer device includes: a vertical rail including an upper end positioned adjacent to a supporting surface of a top placement portion; and a hand member vertically movable along the vertical rail and including a vertical arm having a length such that the vertical arm can hold the upper portion of the article placed on the top placement portion; and a vertical rail including an upper end positioned adjacent to a supporting surface of a top placement portion; and a hand member vertically movable along the vertical rail and including a vertical arm having a length such that the vertical arm can hold the upper portion of the article placed on the top placement portion; and the upper end of the vertical rail is positioned no higher than the supporting surface of the top placement portion, characterized in that the vertical arm has a length which is longer than a vertical distance between a pair of the placement portions arranged vertically, and the automated warehouse further comprises four columns provided at four corners of the shelves, where the columns comprise upper portions, which are removable, a first cover provided at the shelves, and a second cover corresponding to the upper portions of the columns and removably disposed on the shelves, the second cover being arranged to surround a circumference of the article placed on the top placement portion, and an upper end of the second cover being located at a position no lower than an upper surface of the article when placed on the top placement portion.