Owari Okunitama Shrine Romon Gate

A Gate Built in Two Eras

The Owari Okunitama Shrine Romon Gate (尾張大国霊神社楼門, Owari Okunitama jinja romon) is the two-storey tower gate of Owari Okunitama Shrine (Konomiya) in Konomiya, Inazawa City, Aichi Prefecture, and it was designated an Important Cultural Property on June 22, 1955. The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a three-bay, single-passage tower gate with a hip-and-gable cypress-bark roof, with three ridge tablets designated as attached items.

Its lower storey dates from the late Muromachi period and its upper storey from 1646, according to the Agency, so the two levels of the gate were built in different eras.

Why It Is an Important Cultural Property

The gate was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1955. Its value lies in this layering of two periods: an early Edo upper storey of 1646 set on a late Muromachi lower storey. Three bays with a single passage means the front is 3 ken wide, with the central 1 ken used as the passageway.

As the front gate of the general shrine of Owari, it marks the start of the approach to the main hall. It is designated together with the worship hall, and its three ridge tablets record its building and repairs.

What to Look For

Compare the two storeys. As the Agency's records show, the lower level is late Muromachi and the upper level was built in 1646. The veranda and balustrade of the upper storey and the hip-and-gable cypress-bark roof give the gate its height and weight.

Passing through the gate, the worship hall comes into view straight ahead. Walk with the sequence of gate, worship hall and main hall in mind.

Visiting the Gate

The gate stands at the front of the precinct and is passed through when visiting the shrine. Office hours, parking, access and the Hadaka Matsuri are on the Owari Okunitama Shrine (Konomiya) page.