To elucidate the preservative characteristics of chestnuts, three varieties, Ungi, Okkang and Chuckpa, were stored in cellar, polyethylen film packing, and box with or without $gamma-irradiation$, and chemical compositions, rates of sprouting and rotting were determined during the period of storage. The chemical compositions of raw chestnuts were: moisture, 59 to 63%; total sugar, 28 to 29%; reducing sugar, 0.1 to 0.2%; crude fiber, 0.6 to 0.9%; crude protein, 3.5%; vitamin C, 27 to 28mg%; and tannin, 50 to 58mg%. Total sugar and vitamin C were decreased during the period of storage, and of reducing sugar and tannin were increased. The rates after 6 months of storage after three vareitia were; 93 to 100% by the cellar storage; 35 to 57% by the box storage without $gamma-irradiation$ and 1 to 4% with $gamma-irradiation$; and none by the polyethylene film packing. The sprouting rate in Chuckpa decreased markedly as compared with the other two varieties. The rotting rates when stored for 6 months were: 4 to 6% by the box storage without $gamma-irradiation$ and 7 to 12% with $gamma-irradiation$; 5 to 8% by the polyethylene film packing; and 30 to 54% by the cellar storage. The rotting rate in Chuckpa was lower than the other varieties during the period.