A Seven-Bay Worship Hall of the Early Edo Period
The Oyamazumi Shrine Worship Hall (大山祇神社拝殿) is a worship hall seven bays wide of the early Edo period in Omishimacho Miyaura, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on March 31, 1953 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey hall seven bays by four under a gabled roof of cypress bark; designation number 01221.
An Early Edo Worship Hall
According to the Japan Tourism Agency multilingual commentary, Oyamazumi Shrine is revered as a god of the sea, of sailors and warriors, and of battle, and is the only grand shrine in Shikoku. It keeps one of Japan's largest collections of historic armour and weapons in its treasure halls, the Shiyoden among them, and its grounds are surrounded by camphor trees, one near the entrance said to be 2,600 years old.
The worship hall dates from the early Edo period and is seven bays by four under a gabled roof of cypress bark (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency record has no commentary; the date, the early Edo period, and its form, seven bays wide with a gabled roof, set out what was designated.
What to Look For
Look for the broad gabled roof of cypress bark over the seven bays (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Oyamazumi Shrine (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on hours or fees for the shrine and its treasure halls was found. The main hall, worship hall and stone pagodas are introduced together on the Oyamazumi Shrine page.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In the early Edo period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How big is it?
- Seven bays by four.
- What is the roof?
- Gabled, of cypress bark.
- Where are the treasures kept?
- In the shrine's treasure halls, including the Shiyoden.
- When was the Oyamazumi Shrine Worship Hall designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On March 31, 1953 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Oyamazumi Shrine Worship Hall (大山祇神社拝殿) |
|---|---|
| Location | Omishimacho Miyaura, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1953/03/31 (Showa 28) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 7 × 4 bays, single storey, gabled, cypress bark |
| Owner | Oyamazumi Shrine |
| Public Access | No official information on hours |
References
- Oyamazumi Shrine Worship Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/3392
- Oyamazumi Shrine (Japan Tourism Agency multilingual commentary database)
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/common/001554827.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.24
