The Model for Mimasaka Shrine Halls
The Nakayama Shrine Main Hall (中山神社本殿) is a shrine main hall in the nakayama style of 1559 in Ichinomiya, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on April 17, 1914 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a hall 3 bays by 3 with a hip-and-gable roof, entered at the gable end, with a one-bay porch under a cusped gable and a cypress-bark roof; 3 sanctuary shrines and 2 ridge tags are designated alongside it; designation number 00641.
The 1914 date in the Agency record is that of its designation under the former law.
The Hall that Named a Style
The Nakayama Shrine Main Hall has a hip-and-gable roof entered at the gable end, with a porch under a cusped gable in front, all roofed in cypress bark (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
According to the Okayama Prefecture tourism site, this single-storey, gable-entered hip-and-gable form is called the nakayama style, and it served as the model for many shrine buildings in the Mimasaka region.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency lists this nakayama-style hall, built in 1559, as an Important Cultural Property, with 3 sanctuary shrines and 2 ridge tags designated alongside it.
What to Look For
Look for the cusped-gable porch on the gable-end front and the hip-and-gable roof of cypress bark (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
The hall is owned by Nakayama Shrine (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Access is covered on the Nakayama Shrine group page.
Q&A
- When was the Nakayama Shrine Main Hall built?
- In 1559 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What is the nakayama style?
- A gable-entered hip-and-gable hall that served as a model across Mimasaka (Okayama Prefecture).
- What else is designated with it?
- 3 sanctuary shrines and 2 ridge tags.
- What is the roof like?
- A hip-and-gable roof of cypress bark, with a cusped-gable porch.
- When was the Nakayama Shrine Main Hall designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On April 17, 1914 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Nakayama Shrine Main Hall (中山神社本殿) |
|---|---|
| Location | Ichinomiya, Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1914/04/17 (Taisho 3) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 3 by 3 bays, hip-and-gable roof entered at the gable, 1-bay cusped-gable porch, cypress-bark roof |
| Owner | Nakayama Shrine |
| Public Access | See the group page for access |
References
- Nakayama Shrine Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/3024
- Nakayama Shrine (Okayama Kanko Web, Okayama Prefecture, Japanese)
- https://www.okayama-kanko.jp/spot/10532
Last verified: 2026.10.19
