A Sanctuary of 1.8 Square Metres
Ubushina Shrine Chukonsha Main Hall, in the precincts of Ubushina Shrine in the town of Utazu, Kagawa Prefecture, was built in 1935 and listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on 28 April 2010.
Its floor area is 1.8 square metres, about the size of a single tatami mat, and it is the smallest of the ten registered structures in these grounds. It is called a main hall nonetheless, because the sanctuary holds its own deity. A chukonsha is a shrine for those who died in war, and Ubushina Shrine holds a memorial rite here every year on 15 August.
The building stands southwest of the shrine's main hall and faces east, so that morning light falls on its front.
Full Fittings on a One-Bay Frame
Ubushina Shrine Chukonsha Main Hall is a single-bay sanctuary with a low apron veranda at the front: one column bay of enclosed space, with a projecting platform before it. The roof is Irimoya-zukuri, hipped and gabled, covered in copper.
What repays attention is the veranda and the stair. A Kirime-en plank veranda with a Kōran balustrade wraps the front and sides, and wooden steps rise to the doors. On a building the size of one tatami mat, none of the fittings that allow a person to climb up and open the sanctuary has been left out. At each rite the doors are opened and offerings are set inside. Use determined the form.
The plinth is coursed in hexagonal stone blocks and stands high. Single-step brackets are repeated in the spaces between the columns as well as above them, and two tiers of Taruki rafters run closely spaced beneath the eaves. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that the building follows the same structural formula as the Shiogama sanctuary in the same precincts, at a smaller scale. Set the two side by side and the intention is legible: reduce the dimensions, keep the rank.
Where to Stand, and When
Ubushina Shrine Chukonsha Main Hall is small and its plinth is tall, so nothing much resolves from a distance. Come right up to the base of the plinth and look up, and the brackets and rafters come into a single field of view.
The eastward orientation matters. Arrive in the morning and sunlight enters straight from the front, striping the balustrade lattice and the treads of the wooden stair with light and shadow. By afternoon the building is backlit and only its silhouette reads. The same structure gives two different accounts of itself depending on the hour.
On 15 August offerings and participants gather in front of the sanctuary for the memorial rite. On any other day, standing at the foot of the steps is enough to grasp what this small building has been for.
Visiting
The precincts are free to enter. The interior of Ubushina Shrine Chukonsha Main Hall is closed, but the exterior can be examined from around the plinth and photographed without restriction. During the August rite, view from a position that does not obstruct those taking part.
Utazu Station on the JR Yosan Line is about a 15-minute walk away, and there is parking in the grounds. For the timing of the memorial rite, or to ask whether visitors may attend, telephone the shrine office on 0877-49-0805 in advance.
Stone steps lead up to the precincts. Because the sanctuary sits southwest of the main hall, it is out of sight from the approach; walk past the front of the worship hall and around to the left.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Kagawa
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Ubushina Shrine Chukonsha Main Hall
- [ Naoshima Art Island & Kotohiragu Shrine Visit ]
Q&A
- How big is Ubushina Shrine Chukonsha Main Hall?
- It is a single-bay sanctuary with a floor area of 1.8 square metres, the smallest of the ten registered structures at Ubushina Shrine.
- What is enshrined at Ubushina Shrine Chukonsha Main Hall?
- It is a shrine for the war dead. A memorial rite is held there on 15 August each year.
- When was Ubushina Shrine Chukonsha Main Hall built and registered?
- Built in 1935 and listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 28 April 2010, under number 37-0361.
- Where is Ubushina Shrine Chukonsha Main Hall in the grounds?
- Southwest of the shrine's main hall, facing east. It cannot be seen from the approach, so walk around to the left of the worship hall.
- May I photograph Ubushina Shrine Chukonsha Main Hall?
- Photography of the exterior is fine. During the memorial rite the ceremony takes precedence, so follow the guidance of the shrine office.
Basic Information
| Name | Ubushina Shrine Chukonsha Main Hall |
|---|---|
| Location | 1644-1 Nishimachi and adjoining lots, Utazu, Ayauta District, Kagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure), registration no. 37-0361 |
| Year Designated | Registered 28 April 2010 (Heisei 22) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Floor area 1.8 square metres |
| Owner | Ubushina Shrine (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Precincts free of charge. Exterior viewable, interior closed |
References
- National Cultural Properties Database, Ubushina Shrine Chukonsha Main Hall (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008193
- Ubushina Shrine guide leaflet (Town of Utazu)
- https://www.town.utazu.lg.jp/uploaded/attachment/1448.pdf
- 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