Worship pavilion and fence before Tsukuyomisha
The Imamiya Shrine Tsukuyomisha Worship Pavilion and Openwork Fence (今宮神社月読社拝所・透塀) are a worship pavilion of 1910 and the fence on either side of it, in front of the Tsukuyomisha Main Hall at Imamiya Shrine in Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto City, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2018/03/27. They stand at the top of stone steps on the west side of the grounds, where visitors pray to Tsukuyomisha.
They were built together with the sanctuary. The Agency for Cultural Affairs says the Tsukuyomisha enclosure, including the Imamiya Shrine Tsukuyomisha Worship Pavilion and Openwork Fence, has a quiet character set apart from the centre of the grounds.
A lattice boundary at the back
The pavilion stands on a cut-stone platform, one bay square, gabled and entered from the gable end, with a tiled roof and a building area of 2.8 square metres. Lattice fills the line of posts at the back, marking the sacred boundary; worshippers stand inside the pavilion and pray through it toward the sanctuary.
Boat-shaped brackets on square posts carry the tie beams and plates, and both gables have inverted V-struts. The fence has a tiled coping with wooden palings between the posts and runs 5.8 metres in total.
At Jishusha nearby, the boundary runs through the middle of the pavilion; here it is at the back. The west side of the grounds thus shows two ways of arranging a place of prayer.
What to look for, and visiting
Anyone who climbs the steps may walk up to the Imamiya Shrine Tsukuyomisha Worship Pavilion and Openwork Fence. From inside the pavilion, look through the rear lattice to the sanctuary to see where the boundary falls.
From the side, the triangular V-struts in the gable are easy to make out. The steps can be slippery when wet. Directions are on the Imamiya Shrine page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Kyoto
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Imamiya Shrine Tsukuyomisha Worship Pavilion and Openwork Fence
- [ Kinkakuji Fushimi Inari & Kimono Rental ]
Q&A
- When were the Imamiya Shrine Tsukuyomisha Worship Pavilion and Openwork Fence built?
- In 1910, together with the Tsukuyomisha Main Hall.
- What does the Imamiya Shrine Tsukuyomisha Worship Pavilion look like?
- A one-bay gabled pavilion with lattice across its rear posts as the sacred boundary.
- Where are the Imamiya Shrine Tsukuyomisha Worship Pavilion and Openwork Fence?
- At the top of stone steps on the west side of the grounds, in front of the Tsukuyomisha Main Hall.
- Can I pray at the Imamiya Shrine Tsukuyomisha Worship Pavilion?
- Yes. Step into the pavilion and pray through the lattice toward the sanctuary.
- How big are the Imamiya Shrine Tsukuyomisha Worship Pavilion and Openwork Fence?
- The pavilion covers 2.8 square metres and the fence runs 5.8 metres.
Basic Information
| Name | Imamiya Shrine Tsukuyomisha Worship Pavilion and Openwork Fence (今宮神社月読社拝所・透塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 21 Imamiyacho, Murasakino, Kita-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 26-544 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2018/03/27 (Heisei 30) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Worship pavilion: timber, single storey, tiled roof, building area 2.8 square metres. Fence: timber, tiled coping, total length 5.8 metres |
| Owner | Imamiya Shrine (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | The front of the pavilion can be approached freely in the grounds (no charge) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Imamiya Shrine Tsukuyomisha Worship Pavilion and Openwork Fence
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012196
- 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
