A Shrine for the Household God
The Former Ueno Family Residence Shrine (旧上野家住宅神社, Kyū Ueno-ke Jūtaku Jinja) is a miniature shrine to the household god of the Ueno family compound in Saihoji, Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture, built in the late Edo period (1751–1829) and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 3, 2006. Maizuru City's records identify the deity as Kōjin, the hearth and household guardian.
The Ueno shrine stands northeast of the main house, facing east. It is a one-bay shrine in the Nagare-zukuri style, with a roof of thin overlapping wooden shingles, known as Kokerabuki. Its building area is just 1.3 square metres, the smallest of the eight registered structures, and it is housed inside a protective outer shelter.
The long wall that wraps around the south side of the compound and the garden ends here. The national description of the wall calls this shrine the Ueno Shrine.
Why the Shrine Was Registered
The Former Ueno Family Residence Shrine was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape. The national description praises the care taken over its finish and notes features characteristic of the Maizuru area.
The regional feature it singles out is the front door, which is carved through with openwork, a treatment the description associates with shrines in the Maizuru area.
The other point is how the shrine was used. It was the Ueno family's household shrine, but it also served in local festivals, so the headman's private god was part of the village's religious life as well.
What to Look For
The detail is concentrated on the kōhai, the porch roof projecting over the steps. The tie beam between its posts is carved with scrolling foliage patterns, and a dragon is carved above it.
The beam ends projecting from the tops of the posts are carved as a Chinese lion and a baku, a mythical creature with an elephant-like trunk said to eat bad dreams. It is the carving vocabulary of a large temple or shrine, packed onto a building of just 1.3 square metres.
The openwork doors are easy to miss in the dim light under the shelter. Visit on a bright day and stoop a little to look straight at the front.
Visiting the Shrine
The Former Ueno Family Residence Shrine stands outdoors and is viewed from outside its shelter. You cannot enter the shelter or touch the shrine. Because the carvings are small and set back under the shelter roof, daylight on a clear day shows them best.
No published rule on photography turned up. It is an active place of worship, so a small bow before taking pictures is a courteous gesture. Opening hours and directions are covered on the Former Ueno Family Residence page.
Q&A
- Can you visit the Ueno Shrine, and is there a fee?
- Yes. The Ueno Shrine stands inside the compound, which is open free of charge from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on opening days and closed on Wednesdays and over the New Year holidays.
- Which deity is enshrined at the Ueno Shrine?
- The Ueno family's household god; Maizuru City's records identify it as Kōjin. The shrine was also used in local festivals.
- What should you look for at the Ueno Shrine?
- The carved tie beam and dragon on the porch, the Chinese lion and baku on the beam ends, and the openwork front door typical of the Maizuru area.
- How large is the Ueno Shrine?
- It is a one-bay nagare-zukuri shrine with a shingle roof and a building area of 1.3 square metres, set inside a protective shelter.
- Is the Former Ueno Family Residence Shrine an Important Cultural Property?
- No. The Former Ueno Family Residence Shrine is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, registered on August 3, 2006, on the same day as the other seven structures in the compound.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Ueno Family Residence Shrine |
|---|---|
| Location | 285 Saihoji, Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2006/08/03 (Heisei 18) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, wooden shingle roof; one-bay nagare-zukuri; building area 1.3 square metres; with protective shelter |
| Owner | Maizuru City |
| Public Access | Viewable from outside its shelter free of charge 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on opening days (closed Wednesdays and New Year holidays) |
References
- Former Ueno Family Residence Shrine (Agency for Cultural Affairs database, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00005634
- Maizuru City Basic Concept for History and Culture, Ch. 2 (2-3): list of designated and registered properties (Japanese)
- https://www.city.maizuru.kyoto.jp/kyouiku/cmsfiles/contents/0000004/4317/2-2.2_2019013109530129.pdf
- Maizuru City Basic Concept for History and Culture, Ch. 3 (3-2) [3-4] (Japanese)
- https://www.city.maizuru.kyoto.jp/kyouiku/cmsfiles/contents/0000004/4317/3-2.3-4_2019013109315068.pdf
- Ordinance on the Kasa Area Ōjōya Ueno-ke Facility (Maizuru City bylaws, Japanese)
- https://www.city.maizuru.kyoto.jp/html/reiki_int/reiki_honbun/k104RG00000789.html
- Kasa Area Ōjōya Ueno-ke (Maizuru City official website, Japanese)
- https://www.city.maizuru.kyoto.jp/kankou/0000010433.html
Last verified: 2026.09.25
