Annaka Church
Annaka Church (日本基督教団安中教会), of the United Church of Christ in Japan, stands in Annaka, Gunma; its sanctuary of 1919 (the Niijima Jo Memorial Hall), the Onkotei parsonage of 1920, the Gientei study of 1935 and the missionary house of 1954 were registered as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties on November 8, 2004 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
A Sanctuary of Oya Stone
The sanctuary is a Romanesque church of Oya stone facing east, with a square bell tower at the south-east corner and buttresses along its walls. Inside it has a single aisle, but the vaulted centre of the ceiling makes it read as a nave with side aisles, and Composite marble columns flank the apse. It was designed by Furuhashi Ryutaro (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The hall is named after Niijima Jo, known as the founder of Doshisha.
Parsonage, Study and Missionary House
Across the road to the south stands Onkotei, built around tatami rooms said to come from the house of a senior retainer of the Annaka domain; north-west of it is Gientei, the tall study of Kashiwagi Gien with high windows. South-west of Onkotei, the missionary house, with a bay window and three chimneys, carries on the style of Meiji and Taisho missionary homes (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Each building is described on its own page.
Visiting
The four buildings are owned by the Annaka Church of the United Church of Christ in Japan (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It is a working church, and no official information on visiting was found.
References
- Annaka Church Sanctuary (Niijima Jo Memorial Hall) (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00004330
- Annaka Church Onkotei (Former Parsonage) (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00004331
- Annaka Church Gientei (Former Study of Kashiwagi Gien) (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00004332
- Annaka Church Missionary House (Former Beken Residence) (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00004333
Last verified: 2026.11.07
Basic Information
| Name | Annaka Church |
|---|---|
| Location | Annaka, Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture |
| Owner | Annaka Church, United Church of Christ in Japan |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (4) |
| Coordinates | 36.32933, 138.89785 |
