A Gate from the Castle
The Toshinji Temple Gate (當信寺山門) is a bell gate said to reuse timbers of a Shiroishi Castle gate of 1887 in Motomachi, Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on August 1, 2016 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey timber gate with a tiled roof and a building area of 13 square metres; registration number 04-0122.
Timbers from a Castle Gate
The Toshinji Temple Gate is a three-bay gate with one passage, said to have been built with timbers from a gate of the second bailey of Shiroishi Castle (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
On top sits a gabled, tiled bell chamber thought to have been the turret of the castle gate, with a large opening framed in the shape of a sacred jewel at its centre (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes that it recalls how the old castle town passed from the early modern to the modern era after the upheavals at the end of the Edo period, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the large jewel-shaped opening of the bell chamber (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Toshinji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official visiting information was found. The hall and the gate are covered together on the Toshinji Temple group page.
Q&A
- When was the Toshinji Temple Gate built?
- In 1887 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Where did its timbers come from?
- Tradition says from a gate of the second bailey of Shiroishi Castle.
- What type of gate is it?
- A three-bay gate with one passage and a bell chamber on top.
- What is distinctive about the bell chamber?
- A large opening framed in the shape of a sacred jewel.
- When was the Toshinji Temple Gate registered?
- On August 1, 2016 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Toshinji Temple Gate (當信寺山門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 62 Motomachi, Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2016/08/01 (Heisei 28) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, 2 storeys, tiled roof, 13 m² |
| Owner | Toshinji Temple |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Toshinji Temple Gate (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00011035
Last verified: 2026.10.20
