What is the Onoe Shrine Worship Hall?
The Onoe Shrine Worship Hall (尾上神社拝殿, Onoe Jinja Haiden) in Onoe-cho, Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture, is an early Meiji-era hall of worship that was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan on May 15, 2007.
A worship hall (haiden) is where visitors stand to pray. The Onoe Shrine Worship Hall is the front building of the shrine, the one the Agency for Cultural Affairs places first in the row of shrine buildings. Pass through the Zuishin Gate and it is straight ahead, so its roof is the face of Onoe Shrine for most visitors.
The single-storey timber hall is five bays wide and four deep and covers 64 square meters, the largest of the four registered buildings. An arched bridge and an offering-preparation room are attached to the back, leading on toward the Offering Hall and Main Hall. The Agency dates it to the early Meiji era; Kakogawa City gives the Meiji era, nineteenth century.
Why the Onoe Shrine Worship Hall was registered
The Onoe Shrine Worship Hall was entered in the 54th round of registration as number 28-0268, for its contribution to the historic landscape.
The roof is hip-and-gable (Irimoya-zukuri) in round-and-flat tiles (Hongawarabuki), and the front carries two gables at once. A triangular dormer gable (Chidori-hafu) rises from the roof slope, and below it a cusped, bow-shaped gable (Noki-karahafu) lifts the edge of the eaves over the entrance. The gable faces are filled with a timber lattice (Kitsure-goshi).
The Agency singles out the tiles. The roof uses many specially shaped pieces, such as fish-shaped shachi finials and ogre-faced end tiles (Onigawara), to decorate the front of the shrine. It describes the result as heavy and showy at the same time. The ornament is concentrated on the face that worshippers meet first.
What to look for at the Onoe Shrine Worship Hall
Once through the Zuishin Gate, look up at the front of the Onoe Shrine Worship Hall. The curve of the bow-shaped gable runs along the eaves, and the triangle of the dormer gable sits above it. The lattice inside the gables is a fine grid of thin timbers.
Then pick out the tiles at the ends of the ridges. Shachi and onigawara are placed at the key points of the roof. Step back from the hall to take in the whole roof and you see how much of the decorative tile work has been gathered on the front.
An arched bridge and an offering-preparation room are attached behind the hall. Looking at the back of the Worship Hall from the side of the grounds shows how it leads on to the Offering Hall. It is also worth comparing its lattice gables with those of the Offering Hall: the Taisho-era builder of that hall chose to match this one.
Seeing the Onoe Shrine Worship Hall
The exterior of the Onoe Shrine Worship Hall can be seen from the approach, straight ahead of the Zuishin Gate. No information says whether visitors may step up into the hall; ask the shrine if you want to arrange a prayer service.
No published rules on photography were found. Please refrain from taking pictures while people are praying at the hall or during prayers and ceremonies. The grounds are busy on the days of the summer and autumn festivals. Directions and visiting information are on the Onoe Shrine page.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Onoe Shrine Worship Hall
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Q&A
- When was the Onoe Shrine Worship Hall built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the early Meiji era. Among the registered buildings, it is younger than the late Edo Main Hall and Zuishin Gate and older than the Taisho-era Offering Hall.
- When did the Onoe Shrine Worship Hall become a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered on May 15, 2007, in the 54th round, as number 28-0268. The Main Hall, Offering Hall and Zuishin Gate were registered the same day.
- What is special about the roof of the Onoe Shrine Worship Hall?
- It is a tiled hip-and-gable roof with both a dormer gable and a bow-shaped eaves gable on the front. The gables are filled with lattice, and decorative tiles such as shachi and onigawara adorn the front.
- How large is the Onoe Shrine Worship Hall?
- It is five bays wide and four bays deep, with a building area of 64 square meters, the largest of the four registered buildings. An arched bridge and an offering-preparation room are attached to the back.
- Can I visit and photograph the Onoe Shrine Worship Hall?
- The grounds are open and the exterior is visible from the approach. There is no information on entering the hall and no published photography rules. Please avoid taking pictures while people are praying or during ceremonies.
Basic Information
| Name | Onoe Shrine Worship Hall |
|---|---|
| Location | 518 Nagata, Onoe-cho, Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered May 15, 2007 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 64 square meters (5 bays wide, 4 bays deep) |
| Owner | Onoe Shrine (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Shrine grounds open to visitors (free). Exterior visible from the approach |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Onoe Shrine Worship Hall (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00006167
- Cultural Heritage Online: Onoe Shrine Worship Hall (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/143431
- Kakogawa City: Onoe Shrine, four Registered Cultural Properties (Japanese)
- https://www.city.kakogawa.lg.jp/soshikikarasagasu/kyouiku/kakuka/kyoikushidobu/bunkazai_cyosa/bunkazai/kunitourokukaisetu/kunitourokuonoejinjakaisetu.html
Last verified: 2026.10.04
