A Colourful Shrine Hall by Local Carpenters
The Takakura Shrine Main Hall (高座神社本殿) is one of the largest shrine halls of the Tanba region, with an original roof of 1705 in Sannancho Tanikawa, Tanba City, Hyogo Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on August 17, 2018 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a nagare-zukuri hall five bays wide at the front and six at the back, with two dormer gables and a one-bay hip-and-gable porch with a cusped eave, roofed in cypress bark and designated together with eight ridge tags; designation number 2684.
Built by Local Carpenters
Takakura Shrine stands at the foot of the hills in southern Tanba; its main hall was built in 1705 by local carpenters (Agency for Cultural Affairs). A nagare-zukuri hall five bays wide at the front, it has a hip-and-gable porch with a cusped eave at the centre and dormer gables on either side of the roof.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency values it as one of the largest early modern shrine halls of the Tanba region, refined and splendid throughout, its porch and painted carvings showing the character of the region's shrines: a hall of marked regional character and original design. The criterion is excellence of design.
Three-Step Brackets and Painted Carvings
The hall is tall throughout with an original roof form; its brackets project three steps, and carvings at key points are painted (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The gables are richly decorated with double tie beams, struts and frog-leg struts, and every detail is skilfully worked.
What to Look For
Look for the dormer gables, the central porch with its cusped eave and the painted carvings (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Takakura Shrine (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on public access was found.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In 1705 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Who built it?
- Local carpenters.
- What marks the roof?
- Dormer gables and a central porch with a cusped eave.
- How is it rated?
- Among the largest early modern shrine halls of Tanba.
- When was the Takakura Shrine Main Hall designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On August 17, 2018 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Takakura Shrine Main Hall (高座神社本殿) |
|---|---|
| Location | Sannancho Tanikawa, Tanba City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 2018/08/17 (Heisei 30) |
| Quantity | 1 building (with 8 ridge tags) |
| Dimensions | Front 5 bays, back 6, nagare-zukuri, dormer gables, one-bay porch, cypress bark |
| Owner | Takakura Shrine |
| Public Access | No official information on access |
References
- Takakura Shrine Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/00005140
Last verified: 2026.10.25