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 (C) can be placed; and a transfer device arranged to hold an upper portion of the article (C) and transfer the article (C); 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 (C) 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 (C) 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 (C) can be placed; and a transfer device arranged to hold an upper portion of the article (C) and transfer the article (C); 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 (C) 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 (C) 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 (C) 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 . <EOS>