A Small Shrine to the Medicine Buddha
The Imao Family Residence Yakushido (今尾家住宅薬師堂) is a small timber hall for the Medicine Buddha built in 1925 on the Imao family estate in Naka-Shinkano-cho, Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture, which in 2007 was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a cypress-bark roof and a building area of 5.5 square metres; it was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.
The Agency places it on the plot south of the front gate, across the road, facing east.
Structure
According to the Agency, it is in kasuga style with a cypress-bark roof, set on a 1.2-metre stone wall with steps at the front.
A railing runs round it; the front doors are pierced with the family's flower-diamond crest, and the rafter and bracket ends of the porch are painted with shell white.
What to Look For
The Agency notes that it conveys the standing of a physician family. A hall to the Medicine Buddha facing a doctor's house reflects the family's calling.
Look at the family crest pierced in the front doors.
Visiting the Imao Family Residence Yakushido
It appears to be a private residence, and no official visitor information could be found.
The layout of the whole estate and the history of Shinkano are on the Imao Family Residence group page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Gifu
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Imao Family Residence Yakushido
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Q&A
- When was the Yakushido built?
- In 1925.
- What style is it?
- Kasuga style with a cypress-bark roof, on a 1.2-metre stone base.
- What is special about its doors?
- They are pierced with the family's flower-diamond crest.
- Where is it?
- On the plot south of the front gate, across the road.
- Why is it significant?
- It conveys the standing of a physician family, according to the Agency.
Basic Information
| Name | Imao Family Residence Yakushido (今尾家住宅薬師堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2123-1 Naka-Shinkano-cho, Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2007/5/15 (Heisei 19) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, cypress-bark roof, building area 5.5 square metres |
| Owner | Not recorded in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Public Access | No official visitor information found |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Imao Family Residence Yakushido (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00006195
- Cultural Heritage Online: Imao Family Residence Yakushido (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/197189
Last verified: 2026.09.28
