A Cut-Stone Fence around the Sacred Precinct
The Ioshi Shrine Stone Fence (五百禩神社石塀) is a fence of cut stone marking off the sacred precinct of the early Meiji period in Kusubaru, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on September 10, 2010 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a stone fence 64 metres long; registration number 45-0069.
A Fence Marking the Sacred Area
The stone fence stands in front of the worship hall; it runs 2.9 metres beside the steps of the east-west approach, then 12 metres north and 20 metres south from the lowest step, turning east at its southern end to wrap around the foot of the hill (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
It is 1.5 metres high, of finely cut stone laid in a regular pattern, and sharply marks off the sacred area (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the finely cut stonework and the way the fence turns to wrap around the hill (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Ioshi Shrine (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on public access was found. The main hall, the kagura hall and worship hall, the stone fence and the stone bridge and walls are introduced together on the Ioshi Shrine page.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In the early Meiji period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How long and high is it?
- 64 metres long and 1.5 metres high.
- How is it built?
- Of finely cut stone laid in a regular pattern.
- What does it do?
- It marks off the sacred area.
- When was the Ioshi Shrine Stone Fence registered?
- On September 10, 2010 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Ioshi Shrine Stone Fence (五百禩神社石塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-1 Kusubaru, Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2010/09/10 (Heisei 22) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Stone, 64 m long |
| Owner | Ioshi Shrine |
| Public Access | No official information on access |
References
- Ioshi Shrine Stone Fence (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008389
- Nichinan City historic townscape plan (via MLIT, Japanese)
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001260038.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.24
