A Carved Shrine on a Mountain Ledge
The Kuwaze Shrine Main Hall (桑瀬神社本殿) is a one-bay shrine with painted carvings of the early Meiji era in Kuwaze, Ino Town, Agawa District, Kochi Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on March 2, 2004 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a board roof and a building area of 6.2 square metres; registration number 39-0131.
A Small Shrine inside a Cover Hall
The Kuwaze Shrine Main Hall stands on a ledge of about 20 square metres cut into a steep mountainside beside a waterfall (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It is a one-bay gabled shrine with a board roof, entered on its long side and housed inside a protective cover hall facing roughly south, with stepped extensions to its roof at front and back.
The tops of the front posts and the frog-leg struts are carved with painted dragons, tapirs and phoenixes (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes that the shrine has long been cared for by the local community, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the painted carvings of dragons, tapirs and phoenixes on the posts and struts (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Kuwaze Shrine (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official visiting information was found.
Q&A
- When was the Kuwaze Shrine Main Hall built?
- In the early Meiji era (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How is the name read?
- Kuwaze Jinja.
- Where does it stand?
- On a small ledge cut into a steep mountainside beside a waterfall.
- What do the carvings show?
- Dragons, tapirs and phoenixes.
- When was the Kuwaze Shrine Main Hall registered?
- On March 2, 2004 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Kuwaze Shrine Main Hall (桑瀬神社本殿) |
|---|---|
| Location | Kuwaze, Ino Town, Agawa District, Kochi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2004/03/02 (Heisei 16) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, single storey, board roof, 6.2 m² |
| Owner | Kuwaze Shrine |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Kuwaze Shrine Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00004063
Last verified: 2026.10.19