The First Gate on the Stairway
Shinmei Shrine Inari Torii (神明社稲荷鳥居, Shinmeisha Inari Torii) is a stone gateway on the approach to Yoshizawa Shinmei Shrine in Yoshizawa, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture, erected in 1810 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 12 July 2005.
It stands a short way up the stone steps from the foot of the approach, and it is the first gate every worshipper passes through on the way up. It is the oldest of the seven registered structures at the shrine, and it was already standing here when the shrine buildings burned in 1841.
The national database gives its height as 4.1 m and its width as 3.0 m; the accompanying description rounds these to about 4 m overall with about 3 m between the pillars.
What Makes an Inari Torii
A torii is the gateway that marks the entrance to sacred ground. This one has a curved upper lintel (kasagi) with a second beam (shimaki) beneath it, and a ring-like collar called a daiwa where each pillar meets the lintels. That collar is the mark of the Inari type, named for its frequent use at shrines of the rice deity Inari. The name refers only to the form: the shrine it serves is dedicated to Amaterasu, not to Inari.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs points to two distinctive details: the thick daiwa collars, and a broad, trapezoidal central tablet strut (gakuzuka) between the two beams. Yurihonjo City adds that the kamebara, the rounded bases wrapping the feet of the pillars, and the collars are larger than usual, giving the whole a heavy, solid build.
The pillars also lean inward, an effect called Uchikorobi: 25 cm of inward lean over a pillar height of 3.4 m. Seen from the front, the two pillars draw very slightly together toward the top and the gate reads as broad-footed and stable.
The criterion for registration was contribution to the historic landscape. A stone gate on the stairway fixes the starting point of the whole approach.
Seeing the Inari Torii
Shinmei Shrine Inari Torii is part of the approach and every visitor passes under it; no arrangements are needed to see it.
The thickness of the collars and the trapezoid of the tablet strut read best from a few steps below, looking up, rather than from directly underneath. The inward lean shows when you stand back and compare the two pillars. Carry on up the steps and you reach the timber Ryobu torii, so the two gates can be compared in sequence: stone against wood, one form against another.
The steps are long and can be slippery after rain and in snow. No official guidance on photography could be found. Directions and general visiting conditions are on the Yoshizawa Shinmei Shrine page.
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Q&A
- When was Shinmei Shrine Inari Torii built and when was it registered?
- It was erected in 1810 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 12 July 2005 (registration number 05-0121). It is the oldest of the seven registered structures at Yoshizawa Shinmei Shrine.
- How large is Shinmei Shrine Inari Torii?
- The national database gives a height of 4.1 m and a width of 3.0 m. The pillars are 3.4 m high with an inward lean of 25 cm.
- What type of torii is Shinmei Shrine Inari Torii?
- An Inari-type torii: curved upper lintels with a daiwa collar at the top of each pillar. Its thick collars and broad trapezoidal central strut are its distinguishing details.
- Where is Shinmei Shrine Inari Torii in Yurihonjo?
- On the approach to Yoshizawa Shinmei Shrine, a short way up the stone steps from the foot of the stairway. It is the first gate on the climb; the timber Ryobu torii stands farther up.
- Can visitors see Shinmei Shrine Inari Torii at any time?
- Yes. It stands on the approach and is passed on every visit. The steps are long, so take care after rain and in winter.
Basic Information
| Name | Shinmei Shrine Inari Torii (神明社稲荷鳥居, Shinmeisha Inari Torii) |
|---|---|
| Location | 42 Kamibayashi, Yoshizawa, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 05-0121; criterion: contributing to the historic landscape |
| Year Designated | Registered 2005/07/12 (Heisei 17) |
| Quantity | 1 gate |
| Dimensions | Stone; height 4.1 m, width 3.0 m; pillar height 3.4 m, inward lean 25 cm |
| Owner | Shinmeisha (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | On the approach; open at all times |
References
- National Cultural Properties Database, Agency for Cultural Affairs / Shinmei Shrine Inari Torii
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00004692
- Cultural Heritage Online / Shinmeisha Inari Torii
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/170002
- Yurihonjo City official website / Shinmeisha (Registered Tangible Cultural Properties)
- https://www.city.yurihonjo.lg.jp/1001503/1002098/1002113/1002126/1003556.html
- Yurihonjo City / leaflet on Shinmeisha (PDF, Japanese)
- https://www.city.yurihonjo.lg.jp/_res/projects/default_project/_page_/001/003/556/1003556_001.pdf
Last verified: 2026.09.24
