The corridor east of the Tower Gate
The Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate East Corridor (今宮神社楼門東廻廊, Imamiya Jinja Romon Higashi Kairo) is a corridor building of 1926 set a short distance east of the Tower Gate at Imamiya Shrine in Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2018/03/27. With the gate and the West Corridor it makes up the shrine's south front.
The Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate East Corridor was planned with the gate in the same year and is registered as a model of design. It stands near the purification pavilion and the East Gate, so visitors coming in from the east see it early.
Carving gathered in the gables
The building is three bays by one under a gabled roof. As with its twin, the database gives copper sheet in the structure field and traditional tiles in the description. Latticed windows open front and back, panelled doors close the gable ends, and boat-shaped brackets sit on small struts between the posts, all exactly as on the West Corridor.
The difference is in the gables. A kaerumata strut sits on the tie beam, a large bearing block on top of it, and a projecting set of three-part brackets above that. The Agency for Cultural Affairs singles out this carving for its use of medieval and earlier motifs.
Placing both corridors a little apart from the Tower Gate lets the gate stand on its own. The three were planned together but deliberately not joined.
What to look for, and visiting
The Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate East Corridor is not open inside. Go round to either gable end to see the strut and bracket work head-on.
The east gable faces toward the purification pavilion and the East Gate, so if you enter from the east, look up at it on your way to the Tower Gate. Directions are on the Imamiya Shrine page.
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Q&A
- When was the Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate East Corridor built?
- In 1926, the same year as the gate and the West Corridor.
- What should I look for on the Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate East Corridor?
- The carved gables, with a kaerumata strut, a bearing block and projecting brackets on the tie beam.
- Where is the best place to see the Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate East Corridor?
- At either gable end, where the carving faces you. You pass it if you enter from the East Gate.
- Can I go inside the Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate East Corridor?
- No. Only the exterior can be seen.
- Why does the Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate East Corridor stand apart from the gate?
- The three were planned together but set slightly apart so the gate reads as an independent structure.
Basic Information
| Name | Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate East Corridor (今宮神社楼門東廻廊) |
|---|---|
| Location | 21 Imamiyacho, Murasakino, Kita-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 26-554 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2018/03/27 (Heisei 30) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, single storey, gabled roof, three bays by one; building area 44 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 Tower Gate East Corridor
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012206
- 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
