Full Ceremonial Specification in Six Square Metres
Ubushina Shrine Auxiliary Shiogama Shrine Main Hall, standing in the precincts of Ubushina Shrine in the town of Utazu, Kagawa Prefecture, was built in 1934 and listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on 28 April 2010.
Its floor area is 6.2 square metres, one bay by one bay. That is roughly the footprint of four tatami mats. Yet look up under the eaves and the bracketing is packed as densely as on a hall many times the size.
Shiogama shrines enshrine the deity of salt making. Utazu had been producing salt since the Edo period, and by the time the town was incorporated in 1898 its shoreline carried eight salt fields, making it the largest producer in the country. The year this sanctuary went up, 1934, fell at the height of that trade.
Listed as a Model of Design
The criterion applied to Ubushina Shrine Auxiliary Shiogama Shrine Main Hall is that it serves as a model of design. Ten registered structures stand in the Ubushina Shrine precincts, and only two of them, the shrine's own main hall and this auxiliary sanctuary, were listed on that ground. The remaining eight qualified for their contribution to the historic landscape. For a building of this size, the assessment is unusually high.
The roof is Irimoya-zukuri, hipped and gabled, sheathed in copper. A one-bay Kōhai canopy projects at the front, and above it two gables are layered: a Chidori-hafu dormer gable set into the slope and a Noki-karahafu, the undulating cusped gable, at the eaves line. Stacking the two is a device normally reserved for large ceremonial halls.
The brackets are of the single-step projecting type, repeated across the spaces between the columns rather than only above them, with curved cove boards filling the gap between bracket and eaves. Above them run two tiers of closely spaced Taruki rafters. Small carvings occupy the openings. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the building as elegant yet built to full specification.
The plinth is coursed in hexagonal stone blocks and is unusually tall. Combined with the sanctuary's position on the highest terrace of the hilltop precincts, north of the shrine's main hall, the whole composition is designed to be looked up at.
Getting Close Enough to See the Carving
Because Ubushina Shrine Auxiliary Shiogama Shrine Main Hall sits behind its own worship hall, only the roof shows from the front. Climb to the top terrace and walk around to the flank, and the height of the plinth and the density of the bracketing register together.
The carvings tucked between the brackets are small. Standing back for a wide view works less well than coming in close under the plinth and looking upward. The copper has gone to verdigris, which reads against the pale grey of the stone.
The building was repaired in 1985, but its original form was kept intact.
Visiting
Entering the precincts costs nothing. The interior of Ubushina Shrine Auxiliary Shiogama Shrine Main Hall is closed, but the exterior can be examined from around the plinth and photographed without restriction. Stone steps run most of the way up, so comfortable shoes help.
The shrine is roughly a 15-minute walk from Utazu Station on the JR Yosan Line, and there is parking inside the grounds. For visiting hours or to arrange a ritual, telephone the shrine office on 0877-49-0805.
The Shiogama festival is held alongside the main Ubushina festival on the fourth Saturday and Sunday of October. Crowds gather in front of the sanctuary on those days, so choose another date if the architecture is what brings you.
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Q&A
- Where is Ubushina Shrine Auxiliary Shiogama Shrine Main Hall?
- On the highest terrace of the Ubushina Shrine precincts in Utazu, Kagawa Prefecture, immediately north of the shrine's own main hall.
- How large is Ubushina Shrine Auxiliary Shiogama Shrine Main Hall?
- One bay by one bay, with a floor area of 6.2 square metres. Despite the scale it carries two layered gables and densely packed bracketing.
- When was Ubushina Shrine Auxiliary Shiogama Shrine Main Hall registered?
- On 28 April 2010, under number 37-0358. The criterion applied was that the building serves as a model of design.
- Why is there a salt deity at Ubushina Shrine Auxiliary Shiogama Shrine Main Hall?
- Shiogama shrines are dedicated to the god of salt production. Utazu ran eight salt fields by 1898 and was the country's leading producer, and this sanctuary was built out of that prosperity in 1934.
- May I photograph Ubushina Shrine Auxiliary Shiogama Shrine Main Hall?
- Yes, the exterior may be photographed. During festivals or rituals, follow the instructions of the shrine office.
Basic Information
| Name | Ubushina Shrine Auxiliary Shiogama Shrine Main Hall |
|---|---|
| Location | 1644-1 Nishimachi and adjoining lots, Utazu, Ayauta District, Kagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration no. 37-0358 |
| Year Designated | Registered 28 April 2010 (Heisei 22) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 1 bay by 1 bay, floor area 6.2 square metres |
| Owner | Ubushina Shrine (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Precincts free of charge. Exterior viewable, interior closed |
References
- National Cultural Properties Database, Ubushina Shrine Auxiliary Shiogama Shrine Main Hall (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008190
- Salt making past and present (Town of Utazu)
- https://www.town.utazu.lg.jp/page/1166.html
- Ubushina Shrine, Utazu Sanpomichi (Town of Utazu)
- https://sanpomichi.town.utazu.lg.jp/spot/entry/old/007499/
- Ubushina Shrine (Utazu Tourism Association)
- https://utazu-kanko.jp/tourism/ubushina-shrine
Last verified: 2026.09.08