A Castle Gate Moved to a Temple
The Enmeiji Temple Gate (延命寺山門) is a two-storey timber turret gate of the late Edo period at Enmeiji in Fuzumigaike, Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on February 25, 2016, the first in Shiroishi (Shiroishi City). It is said to be the Umayaguchi Gate of Shiroishi Castle, moved here around 1874.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a two-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 28 square metres; registration number 04-0120, owned by the religious corporation Enmeiji. The temple stands north-east of the old castle town (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Umayaguchi Gate of Shiroishi Castle
According to Miyagi Prefecture, the gate is said to be Shiroishi Castle's Umayaguchi (stable entrance) Gate, moved to Enmeiji around 1874. Shiroishi City likewise describes it as the relocated Umayaguchi Gate.
By becoming a temple gate, it survived as one of the few remaining buildings of the castle.
Why It Was Registered
The Enmeiji Temple Gate was registered as a building that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs and Miyagi Prefecture value it as a rare surviving part of Shiroishi Castle that contributes to the historic townscape.
What to Look For
The Enmeiji Temple Gate is three bays wide with a single passage, a two-storey turret gate (Agency for Cultural Affairs): the passage below and the turret above, the form of a castle gate kept at a temple entrance.
The turret is sealed in white plaster, and its front has two cusped openings fitted with vertical bars (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Miyagi Prefecture). Look up from the front to see the barred windows in the white turret.
Visiting the Enmeiji Temple Gate
The Enmeiji Temple Gate stands at the entrance to Enmeiji, and its exterior can be seen from in front of the temple. We found no official information on visiting arrangements. The address is 68-1 Fuzumigaike, Shiroishi City.
Q&A
- What was the Enmeiji Temple Gate originally?
- It is said to be the Umayaguchi Gate of Shiroishi Castle (Miyagi Prefecture, Shiroishi City).
- When was the Enmeiji Temple Gate moved?
- Around 1874; the building itself dates from the late Edo period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What kind of gate is the Enmeiji Temple Gate?
- A three-bay, single-passage, two-storey turret gate with a white-plastered upper storey (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Enmeiji Temple Gate registered?
- On February 25, 2016, the first registered cultural property in Shiroishi (Shiroishi City).
- Can you visit the Enmeiji Temple Gate?
- It stands at the temple entrance and can be seen from the front.
Basic Information
| Name | Enmeiji Temple Gate (延命寺山門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 68-1 Fuzumigaike, Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2016/2/25 (Heisei 28) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, 2 storeys, tiled roof, building area 28 square metres |
| Owner | Enmeiji (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable |
References
- Enmeiji Temple Gate (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010907
- Registration recommendation for Enmeiji Temple Gate (Miyagi Prefecture)
- https://www.pref.miyagi.jp/soshiki/bunkazai/touroku151120.html
- Enmeiji Temple Gate registered (Shiroishi City)
- https://www.city.shiroishi.miyagi.jp/soshiki/30/6293.html
Last verified: 2026.10.07