The two-storey gate on the south front
The Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate (今宮神社楼門, Imamiya Jinja Romon) is a two-storey gate of 1926 standing at the middle of the south front of Imamiya Shrine in Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2018/03/27. It is the shrine's main entrance, with its east and west corridors of the same year set a short way off on either side.
1926 was the year the shrine's front was remodelled. The Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate and its corridors went up, and the old portable shrine storehouse was moved to the north-east corner and turned into a store for ritual implements. The gate is registered as a model of design.
Different bracketing above and below
It is a romon of three bays with a single central passage, under a hip-and-gable copper roof. The building area is 47 square metres.
On the lower storey, triple-stepped brackets carry the balcony, and between the posts sit kaerumata, frog-leg struts, with their legs drawn out long and decorative. The upper storey uses triple-stepped brackets with tail rafters to carry the eaves, and small struts stand between the posts. The bracketing grows bolder as the gate rises.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs praises the proportions. The upper bays are slightly narrower than those below and the storey heights are adjusted so that the tall gate looks settled rather than top-heavy. Details such as the stretched legs of the kaerumata belong to modern shrine architecture.
What to look for, and visiting
The Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate is the entrance to the grounds and anyone may pass through it. From the approach in front you can take in the whole and see how the two storeys are balanced.
Under the gate, look up at the lower brackets and the kaerumata. Once through, turn round to see that the north face is treated the same way. Opening hours and directions are on the Imamiya Shrine page.
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- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate
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Q&A
- When was the Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate built?
- In 1926, together with the east and west corridors on either side.
- What type of gate is the Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate?
- A two-storey romon of three bays with one central passage and a hip-and-gable copper roof.
- What should I look for at the Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate?
- The triple-stepped brackets and long-legged kaerumata on the lower storey, and the bracketing with tail rafters above.
- Can I walk through the Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate?
- Yes. It is the shrine's main entrance and is open to everyone.
- Why is the Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate registered?
- As a model of design. It was registered on 2018/03/27.
Basic Information
| Name | Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate (今宮神社楼門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 21 Imamiyacho, Murasakino, Kita-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 26-553 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2018/03/27 (Heisei 30) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, two storeys, hip-and-gable copper-sheet roof, three bays with one passage; building area 47 square metres |
| Owner | Imamiya Shrine (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Open as an entrance to the grounds; can be seen and passed through freely (no charge) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Imamiya Shrine Tower Gate
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012205
- 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
