Earthen walls flanking the East Gate
The Imamiya Shrine East Gate North and South Tsukiji Walls (今宮神社東門南北築地塀) are earthen walls of 1881 running north and south from the East Gate of Imamiya Shrine in Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2018/03/27. They turn at the corners and measure 27 metres in total, built in the same year as the gate.
Gate and walls were made as one to form the shrine's entrance on the eastern approach. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes them as finely built walls that contribute to the historic scene in front of the gate.
Five lines and a carved strut
The coping is gabled and laid with traditional tiles. The wall rises from a cut-stone base with a course of flat stones, posts are set into it, and beams projecting over the plate carry the eave purlin, under closely spaced rafters. That is far more carpentry than most earthen walls receive.
The plaster is left at the intermediate coat and crossed by five white lines, the jogisuji. The more lines, the higher the rank, and five is the top. The walls round the main sanctuary carry five as well. At the ends of the walls, kaerumata struts sit in the gables, a sign of care down to the smallest parts.
What to look for, and visiting
The Imamiya Shrine East Gate North and South Tsukiji Walls can be seen freely from both the approach and the grounds. From the eastern approach, face the East Gate to see the walls reaching out on either side.
Up close, look for the closely spaced rafters under the eaves and the kaerumata in the end gables. If you also visit the wall round the main sanctuary to the north, you can compare the two sets of five lines. Directions are on the Imamiya Shrine page.
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Q&A
- When were the Imamiya Shrine East Gate North and South Tsukiji Walls built?
- In 1881, together with the East Gate.
- How long are the Imamiya Shrine East Gate North and South Tsukiji Walls?
- 27 metres in total, turning at the corners north and south of the gate.
- What do the white lines on the Imamiya Shrine East Gate North and South Tsukiji Walls mean?
- They are jogisuji; five lines are said to mark the highest rank.
- Where can I see the Imamiya Shrine East Gate North and South Tsukiji Walls?
- Freely, from the eastern approach and from inside the grounds.
- What details should I look for on the Imamiya Shrine East Gate North and South Tsukiji Walls?
- The closely spaced rafters, the cut-stone base and the kaerumata in the end gables.
Basic Information
| Name | Imamiya Shrine East Gate North and South Tsukiji Walls (今宮神社東門南北築地塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 21 Imamiyacho, Murasakino, Kita-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 26-557 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2018/03/27 (Heisei 30) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Earthen wall with gabled coping in traditional tiles; total length 27 metres |
| Owner | Imamiya Shrine (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Can be seen freely from the grounds and the east approach (no charge) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Imamiya Shrine East Gate North and South Tsukiji Walls
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012209
- Agency for Cultural Affairs — Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Structures), report of 2017/11/17 (Japanese)
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/shokai/yukei_kenzobutsu/pdf/r1392281_21.pdf
- Kyoto City official travel guide — Imamiya Shrine (Japanese)
- https://ja.kyoto.travel/tourism/single01.php?category_id=7&tourism_id=496
Last verified: 2026.10.01
