A Thatched Hall for Worship
The Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall (老松天満社拝殿) is a thatched worship hall of 1898 in Amagasemachi Ideguchi, Hita City, Oita Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on September 10, 2010 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber hall with a thatched roof and a building area of 42 square metres, with a connecting passage; registration number 44-0180.
A Hip-and-Gable Roof of Thatch and Cedar Bark
The Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall stands directly in front of the main hall, a hall of 3 bays by 3 bays under a hip-and-gable roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs). A 1-bay porch roof projects at the front, with a triangular Chidori-hafu gable above it.
The roof is thatch with cedar bark worked into it, a detail the Agency describes as distinctive. The front has Sankarado panelled doors and top-hinged Shitomido shutters, the back has shutters only, and a raised platform runs along each side. Inside, the floor is polished board and the ceiling is coffered (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes how the gentle outline of the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall blends into the farming landscape, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property for its contribution to the historic landscape. It dates from 1898, the same year as the main hall, and the two are linked by a covered passage.
What to Look For
The roof is the thing to see at the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall. Thick thatch laced with cedar bark, with the chidori-hafu gable and porch pushing forward, looks and feels quite unlike the copper-roofed main hall behind it.
From the front, look at how the panelled doors are paired with shitomido shutters, which swing up to open; the back wall is closed with shutters as well (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
The Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall stands at the centre of the grounds, and its front can be seen straight ahead after passing through the torii on the approach. No official information on interior access was found, and the present state of the thatch could not be confirmed from public sources. Directions to the shrine and general visiting conditions are covered on the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine page.
Q&A
- When was the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall built?
- In 1898 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What is the roof of the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall made of?
- Thatch with cedar bark worked into it, a distinctive detail noted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
- What shape is the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall?
- A hip-and-gable hall of 3 bays by 3 bays, with a 1-bay porch and a chidori-hafu gable at the front.
- Can I go inside the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall?
- No official information on interior access was found.
- When was the Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall registered?
- On September 10, 2010 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall (老松天満社拝殿) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1183 Nakamura, Amagasemachi Ideguchi, Hita City, Oita Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2010/09/10 (Heisei 22) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, thatched roof, 42 m², with connecting passage |
| Owner | Religious Corporation Oimatsu Tenmansha |
| Public Access | Grounds free to visit (Hita City Tourism Association); no information on interior access |
References
- Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008384
- Oimatsu Tenmansha Shrine Worship Hall (Cultural Heritage Online, Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/209256
Last verified: 2026.11.05
