Inari Shrine, a Branch Shrine of Tsuma Shrine: A Small One-Bay Shrine
The Inari Shrine, a Branch Shrine of Tsuma Shrine (都萬神社末社稲荷神社), is a small subsidiary shrine building of 1916 in the precinct of Tsuma Shrine in Karijuku, Osaki Town, Kagoshima Prefecture, entered on the national register as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2009.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a small one-bay shrine facing south, just west of the subsidiary Ise Shrine. It has a flowing (Nagare-zukuri) roof of copper sheet and a footprint of just 1.1 square metres, and was renovated in 2005.
Why It Was Registered
The Inari Shrine, a Branch Shrine of Tsuma Shrine, is registration number 46-0089, listed under the criterion of contributing to the historic landscape of the country, and was registered on 2 November 2009 with the main hall, the worship hall and the three other subsidiary shrines.
The Agency points to a telling detail: the frog-leg strut (Kaerumata) at the centre of the front matches the form used on the main hall and elsewhere, and is incised with an account of the rebuilding in the Taisho era. Small as it is, the shrine records that it belongs to the same design family and building campaign as the main hall.
What to Look For
Round pillars are tied by lower and upper tie-beams, with a head-tie running through. The projecting beam ends are carved with a cloud-like pattern, and the eaves use closely spaced double rafters, an elaborate finish for so small a shrine.
Step close to the frog-leg strut on the front to see the incised inscription. Comparing it with the Ise Shrine next door and the main hall shows how the strut shapes match.
Visiting the Inari Shrine
The shrine stands in the Tsuma Shrine precinct and can be seen from outside when you visit; it cannot be entered. It is small and the inscription is fine, so view it from the front without touching it.
Directions and visiting conditions for the precinct are on the Tsuma Shrine page.
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Q&A
- What is the Inari Shrine, a Branch Shrine of Tsuma Shrine?
- A small one-bay subsidiary shrine of 1916 just west of the Ise Shrine in the Tsuma Shrine precinct, with a flowing copper-sheet roof and a footprint of 1.1 square metres.
- When was the Inari Shrine, a Branch Shrine of Tsuma Shrine, registered?
- It was registered on 2 November 2009 as number 46-0089.
- What should I look for at the Inari Shrine, a Branch Shrine of Tsuma Shrine?
- The frog-leg strut on the front, which matches the main hall and bears an incised account of the Taisho rebuilding, and the cloud-patterned beam ends.
- Has the Inari Shrine been restored?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a renovation in 2005.
- Can visitors enter the Inari Shrine?
- No. It can be seen from outside within the Tsuma Shrine precinct.
Basic Information
| Name | Inari Shrine, a Branch Shrine of Tsuma Shrine (都萬神社末社稲荷神社) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1589 Nishisako, Karijuku, Osaki Town, Soo District, Kagoshima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2009/11/2 (Heisei 21) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, single storey, copper-sheet roof, building area 1.1 square metres |
| Owner | Not listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Public Access | Exterior visible within the precinct; interior not open |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Inari Shrine, Tsuma Shrine (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007944
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Tsuma Shrine Main Hall (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00007941
- Kagoshima Prefecture Association of Shinto Shrines: Tsuma Shrine (Japanese)
- https://www.kagojinjacho.or.jp/shrine-search/area-oosumi/%E5%A4%A7%E5%B4%8E%E7%94%BA/933/
Last verified: 2026.09.27
