A Vermilion Gate of 1628
The Iwakiyama Shrine Tower Gate (岩木山神社楼門) is a vermilion two-storey gate of five bays and three passages, 17.85 metres high, on the approach to Iwakiyama Shrine of 1628 in Hyakuzawa, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on April 23, 1908 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey gate five bays wide with three passages, under a hip-and-gable roof of copper sheeting in shingle form; designation number 00493.
The 1908 date in the Agency record is that of its designation under the former law.
A Tower Gate of 1628
The tower gate of Iwakiyama Shrine in Hyakuzawa, Hirosaki City, Aomori, dates from 1628 (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It is a two-storey gate five bays wide with three passages, under a hip-and-gable roof of copper sheeting shaped like shingles.
According to the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education, it stands 17.85 metres high and is painted vermilion throughout. Its bracketing follows the Zen style, with closely set three-step brackets, mixed with Japanese-style details.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency record has no commentary; the date, 1628, and its form, a five-bay, three-passage two-storey gate with a hip-and-gable copper roof, set out what was designated.
What to Look For
At the gate, look for its full 17.85-metre height in vermilion and its Zen-style bracketing (Aomori Board of Education).
Visiting
The gate is owned by Iwakiyama Shrine (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to the Aomori Prefectural Board of Education, only the exterior is open to view; according to the Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization, the shrine is about 40 minutes by bus from JR Hirosaki Station.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In 1628 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How tall is it?
- 17.85 metres.
- What form does it take?
- A five-bay, three-passage gate.
- When was it designated?
- In 1908, under the former law.
- When was the Iwakiyama Shrine Tower Gate designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On April 23, 1908 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Iwakiyama Shrine Tower Gate (岩木山神社楼門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 27 Terasawa, Hyakuzawa, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1908/04/23 (Meiji 41) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Five-bay, three-passage two-storey gate, hip-and-gable roof, copper sheeting in shingle form |
| Owner | Iwakiyama Shrine |
| Public Access | About 40 minutes by bus from JR Hirosaki Station (Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization) |
References
- Iwakiyama Shrine Tower Gate (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/81
- 岩木山神社楼門 (Aomori Prefectural Board of Education, in Japanese)
- https://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/soshiki/kyoiku/e-bunka/jubun_kenzoubutu_2.html
- Iwakiyama Shrine (Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization, in Japanese)
- https://www.tohokukanko.jp/attractions/detail_1226.html
Last verified: 2026.11.12
