Hiyoshisha at the south end of the row
The Imamiya Shrine Hiyoshisha (今宮神社日吉社, Imamiya Jinja Hiyoshisha) is a late Edo shrine (1751 to 1830) facing east at the south end of the row of small shrines north of Wakamiyasha at Imamiya Shrine in Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2018/03/27. A hiyoshisha enshrines a branch of the deity of Hiyoshi Taisha at the foot of Mount Hiei.
It opens the row that continues north through Taishogunsha, Hachimansha and the Hassha, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs credits it with contributing to the historic landscape of the grounds. The building area is 1.6 square metres.
Two rooms in a tiny shrine
It is a one-bay nagare misedana-zukuri shrine in copper sheet, set on a low platform rather than a raised floor.
Small as it is, the sanctum is split front and back with panelled doors between, and the front room is closed by lattice. From outside you see two layers: the lattice, then the doors behind.
The sanctum posts are round with boat-shaped brackets, while the canopy posts are square and carry linked three-part bracket sets, with a kaerumata strut between. The canopy is given the richer bracketing so that the front reads as the showpiece.
What to look for, and visiting
The Imamiya Shrine Hiyoshisha faces the path on the west side of the grounds and cannot be entered. Stand in front to see the lattice and the doors beyond.
The bracket sets and strut on the canopy look most three-dimensional from a front corner. Walk north along the row and compare the small shrines one by one. Directions are on the Imamiya Shrine page.
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Q&A
- When was the Imamiya Shrine Hiyoshisha built?
- In the late Edo period, between 1751 and 1830.
- Where is the Imamiya Shrine Hiyoshisha?
- At the south end of the row of small shrines north of Wakamiyasha, facing east.
- How is the inside of the Imamiya Shrine Hiyoshisha arranged?
- The sanctum is split into two rooms, with panelled doors between them and lattice across the front.
- What should I look for on the Imamiya Shrine Hiyoshisha?
- The linked three-part bracket sets on the square canopy posts and the kaerumata between them.
- Can I go inside the Imamiya Shrine Hiyoshisha?
- No. The exterior can be seen from the path on the west side of the grounds.
Basic Information
| Name | Imamiya Shrine Hiyoshisha (今宮神社日吉社) |
|---|---|
| Location | 21 Imamiyacho, Murasakino, Kita-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 26-548 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2018/03/27 (Heisei 30) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, single storey, one-bay nagare misedana-zukuri shrine with copper-sheet roof; building area 1.6 square metres |
| Owner | Imamiya Shrine (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Exterior can be seen freely from the grounds (no charge); interior not open |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Imamiya Shrine Hiyoshisha
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012200
- 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
