What the Stone Torii Is
The Izumo Daijingu Shrine Stone Torii (出雲大神宮石鳥居, Izumo Daijingū Ishi Torii) in Chitose-cho, Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture, is a granite gateway erected on the shrine approach in 1718 and registered as a Tangible Cultural Property on February 4, 2021.
It is a Myōjin torii, the type whose top beam curves upward at the ends. The pillars stand 4.8 meters apart and are 57 centimeters in diameter.
The Izumo Daijingu stone torii stands on low steps on the north side of the bend in the approach, and it is the oldest of the twelve registered structures.
Why It Was Registered
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the Izumo Daijingu stone torii was donated by the shrine's parishioners, and it praises the good stone and sound workmanship. It is registered as No. 26-0623 under the historic-landscape criterion.
Put up in the mid-Edo period, it framed the approach long before the Meiji worship hall or the Showa middle gate existed.
Two Beams, Each from a Single Stone
The Izumo Daijingu stone torii has two round pillars braced by a tie beam (Nuki). Above them sit two lintels: the lower one, the shimaki, and the upper one, the kasagi, which gives the gate its silhouette.
What the Agency singles out is that the shimaki and the kasagi are each cut from one piece of stone along their whole length. Both are longer than the 4.8-meter span between the pillars, and neither has a joint.
The easiest way to check is to look along the top from one side of the torii.
Seeing the Stone Torii
The Izumo Daijingu stone torii stands on the approach and can be passed through at any time. See it whole from the front, then move to one side and slightly behind to see the thickness and curve of the lintels.
The notice board of 1873 stands just in front of it on the west side. Access is covered on the Izumo Daijingu Shrine page.
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Q&A
- When was the Izumo Daijingu stone torii built?
- In 1718. It was registered on February 4, 2021.
- How large is the Izumo Daijingu stone torii?
- The pillars are 4.8 meters apart and 57 centimeters in diameter.
- What type of gate is the Izumo Daijingu stone torii?
- A granite myojin torii, with round pillars, a tie beam and two lintels, the upper one curving up at the ends.
- What is unusual about the Izumo Daijingu stone torii?
- Each of its two lintels is cut from a single stone along its full length. It was donated by parishioners.
- Can I visit the Izumo Daijingu stone torii?
- Yes. It stands on the approach and can be seen and passed through at any time.
Basic Information
| Name | Izumo Daijingu Shrine Stone Torii (出雲大神宮石鳥居) |
|---|---|
| Location | Chitose Izumo (no lot number), Chitose-cho, Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure, other), registration No. 26-0623 |
| Year Designated | Registered February 4, 2021 |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Stone, span 4.8 meters, pillar diameter 57 centimeters |
| Owner | Izumo Daijingu Religious Corporation |
| Public Access | On the approach; viewable at any time |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Izumo Daijingu Stone Torii (Agency for Cultural Affairs, in Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00013595
- Izumo Daijingu (Kameoka City Tourism Association, in Japanese)
- https://www.kameoka.info/seeing/izumodaijingu.php
Last verified: 2026.09.27
