A one-bay shrine in the garden corner
The Kusaka Family Residence Konpira Shrine (日下家住宅金毘羅社, Kusaka-ke Jūtaku Konpirasha) in Awaga, Santo-cho, Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture, is the small household shrine in the corner of the garden, built in 1843; it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on January 26, 2011 (number 28-0497). It was moved to its present spot late in the Edo period.
The Kusaka Family Residence Konpira Shrine stands in the southwest of the garden south of the main house. It enshrines Konpira, a deity widely worshipped for safe voyages and good business, as the guardian of the household.
A nagare-style shrine with layered gables
The Kusaka Family Residence Konpira Shrine is a one-bay shrine in the nagare style with a front platform, roofed in cypress bark. Its building area is only 0.43 m², yet the front carries both a triangular chidori gable and a curved kara gable at the eaves.
The main body uses projecting bracket sets, the porch has triple brackets stacked in two tiers with a carved dragon between them, the front eaves have two layers of closely spaced rafters, and a coffered ceiling fills the underside of the curved gable.
Fine timber and fine carving
The Agency for Cultural Affairs praises the Kusaka shrine for careful work in good timber and for the quality of its carving. Into a building little bigger than a cabinet go the techniques of a full-sized shrine, an unusually refined piece for a household deity.
Visiting
The Kusaka Family Residence Konpira Shrine stands in the private garden and is not open. It cannot be seen from the road.
The background of the property, what can be seen from outside and directions are on the Kusaka Family Residence (Asago) page.
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Q&A
- Where is the Kusaka Family Residence Konpira Shrine?
- In the southwest corner of the garden south of the main house in the Kusaka compound, Awaga, Santo-cho, Asago City.
- When was the Kusaka Family Residence Konpira Shrine registered as a cultural property?
- On January 26, 2011, as Registered Tangible Cultural Property number 28-0497.
- What style is the Kusaka Family Residence Konpira Shrine?
- A one-bay nagare-style shrine with a front platform, roofed in cypress bark, with a chidori gable and a kara gable on the front.
- What details stand out on the Kusaka Family Residence Konpira Shrine?
- Two tiers of triple brackets on the porch, a carved dragon between them and a coffered ceiling under the curved gable.
- Can visitors see the Kusaka Family Residence Konpira Shrine?
- No. It is in the private garden and cannot be seen from outside.
Basic Information
| Name | Kusaka Family Residence Konpira Shrine (日下家住宅金毘羅社) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2097 Nishitani, Awaga, Santo-cho, Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture, and other lots |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 28-0497 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2011/01/26 (Heisei 23) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, cypress-bark roof; building area 0.43 m² |
| Owner | Private individual |
| Public Access | Not open to the public (private residence) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Kusaka Family Residence Konpira Shrine
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008550
- Tajima Encyclopedia (Tanshin Regional Promotion Fund) — Kusaka Family Residence
- https://tanshin-kikin.jp/tajima/576
Last verified: 2026.10.02
