A Small Gabled Pavilion
The Kaminoshima Shinmei Shrine Purification Pavilion (上の島神明神社手水舎) is a gabled purification pavilion on inward-leaning posts of the early Showa period in Kawashima Matsukuracho, Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on October 2, 2007 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a timber pavilion with a tiled roof and an area of 7.0 square metres; registration number 21-0141.
A Gently Designed Pavilion
Kaminoshima Shinmei Shrine in Kawashima Matsukuracho, Kakamigahara, has 7 registered structures built from the early Showa period to 1937: its main hall, offering hall, office, purification pavilion, torii, banbei screen and arched bridge (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The purification pavilion, of the early Showa period, stands on the west of the precinct north of the office, a gabled structure 1 bay by 1 bay with a tiled roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its chamfered square posts lean slightly inward, braced by tie beams, and carry bearing blocks with bracket arms.
The gables have a vase-shaped strut on a curved beam, and the eaves single, widely spaced rafters. The Agency calls the patterns on the beam and beam ends gentle in design.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
At the purification pavilion, look for the inward-leaning posts and the vase-shaped strut in the gable (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by the Shinmei Shrine religious corporation (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on visiting was found. The main hall, offering hall, shrine office, purification pavilion, torii, banbei screen and arched bridge are introduced together on the Kaminoshima Shinmei Shrine page.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In the early Showa period.
- Where is it?
- North of the shrine office.
- What about the posts?
- They lean slightly inward.
- What is in the gable?
- A vase-shaped strut on a curved beam.
- When was the Kaminoshima Shinmei Shrine Purification Pavilion registered?
- On October 2, 2007 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Kaminoshima Shinmei Shrine Purification Pavilion (上の島神明神社手水舎) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2232-1 Kawashima Matsukuracho, Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2007/10/02 (Heisei 19) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, tiled roof, 7.0 m² |
| Owner | Shinmei Shrine (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | No official information on visiting |
References
- Kaminoshima Shinmei Shrine Purification Pavilion (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00006482
Last verified: 2026.10.31