The Shrine of the Omi Estate
The Shinmei Shrine (Omi Village) (神明社) is a group of shrine buildings of the Edo period (1684 to 1840) in Omi Village, Higashichikuma District, Nagano Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on April 20, 1993 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records five buildings: the main sanctuary, worship hall, temporary sanctuary, kagura hall and stage; designation number 02280.
The Guardian Shrine of an Ise Estate
Tradition holds that Shinmei Shrine was founded to guard the Omi estate of the Inner Shrine of Ise, and in the Edo period it was revered as the chief shrine of the ten villages of the Omi district (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency values the well-preserved group: an early, large shinmei-style main sanctuary together with the temporary sanctuary, worship hall, kagura hall and stage. The five buildings were designated an Important Cultural Property on April 20, 1993.
The Five Buildings
The main sanctuary, built in 1684, is a large hall in the shinmei style of Ise, three bays wide and two deep under a copper roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The temporary sanctuary, built in 1760, is a slightly smaller shinmei-style hall with an offering hall at its front.
The worship hall of 1840 is a plain gabled building of stout timbers (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The kagura hall of 1698 is a thatched building open on all four sides, and the stage of 1783, eight bays by four under a hipped roof, is one of the oldest rural kabuki stages in Japan. The thatch of the kagura hall and stage is currently covered with temporary sheet iron.
What to Look For
Compare the two shinmei-style sanctuaries, and look at the open-sided kagura hall and the large eight-bay rural stage (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
No official information on visiting the shrine or its buildings was found.
Q&A
- When were the buildings of Shinmei Shrine in Omi built?
- Between 1684 and 1840; the main sanctuary dates from 1684 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What is the origin of Shinmei Shrine in Omi?
- It is said to have been founded to guard an estate of the Inner Shrine of Ise.
- How old is the stage at Shinmei Shrine?
- It was built in 1783, one of the oldest rural stages in Japan.
- How many buildings at Shinmei Shrine are designated?
- Five: main sanctuary, worship hall, temporary sanctuary, kagura hall and stage.
- When was the Shinmei Shrine (Omi Village) designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On April 20, 1993 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Shinmei Shrine (Omi Village) (神明社) |
|---|---|
| Location | O, Omi Village, Higashichikuma District, Nagano Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1993/04/20 (Heisei 5) |
| Quantity | 5 buildings |
| Dimensions | Main sanctuary 3 by 2 bays, shinmei style, copper roof; stage 8 by 4 bays, hipped thatch (temporary sheet iron); and others |
| Owner | Shinmei Shrine |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Shinmei Shrine (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/1011
- Shinmei Shrine Main Sanctuary (Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/1010
- Shinmei Shrine Stage (Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/1014
Last verified: 2026.10.16
Cultural Treasures in the Same Area
All are within walking distance in the same area, so we recommend visiting them together.
- Shinmei Shrine stage 0.00 km
- Shinmei Shrine Kagura Hall 0.03 km
- Shinmei Shrine worship hall 0.04 km
- Shinmei Shrine Temporary residence 0.05 km
- Shinmei Shrine Main shrine 0.05 km