A one-bay shrine north-east of the Reioden
The Myokyoji Higuruma Tennosha Shrine (妙教寺日車天王社, Myōkyō-ji Higuruma Tennōsha) is a one-bay shrine of 1908 north-east of the Reioden's inner sanctuary at Saijo Inari Myokyoji in Takamatsu Inari, Kita Ward, Okayama City; it was moved in 1979 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2009/01/08. It is one of the Seventy-Seven Subsidiary Shrines; the name, "sun wheel", is read Higuruma.
The years around 1908 saw a run of small, heavily carved shrines here, among them the Asahi Tennosha and the Seishoko Hall, both of 1909. The Myokyoji Higuruma Tennosha Shrine is an early example of that line, which leads on to the Arakuma and Hayamisaki shrines of the Taisho era.
Dragons in the round, lions in relief
The shrine is a one-bay hip-and-gable building of cypress bark with a small dormer gable and a one-bay porch under a curving karahafu eave. Its building area is 2.0 square metres.
The eaves rest on two-stepped bracket sets packed between the posts, with tail rafters ending in dragon heads and carving between the brackets. At the porch, the beams tying porch to body are dragons carved fully in the round, while the pattern on the front beam is in low relief. Side screens carved with Chinese lions stand beside the body.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the Myokyoji Higuruma Tennosha Shrine as richly carved. By switching between carving in the round and relief from one part to the next, the carvers gave a tiny building real depth of light and shadow.
What to look for, and visiting
The Myokyoji Higuruma Tennosha Shrine stands north-east of the Reioden's inner sanctuary, towards the north of the shrine area. It can be seen at any time, free of charge; the interior is not open.
From a front corner you can compare the dragon wrapped round the tie beam with the lions in relief on the side screen. Look up, too, at the dragon heads on the tail rafters under the eaves. Opening hours and directions are on the Saijo Inari Myokyoji page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Okayama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Myokyoji Higuruma Tennosha Shrine
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Q&A
- How is the Myokyoji Higuruma Tennosha Shrine's name read?
- Higuruma, meaning "sun wheel".
- Where is the Myokyoji Higuruma Tennosha Shrine?
- North-east of the Reioden's inner sanctuary.
- When was the Myokyoji Higuruma Tennosha Shrine built?
- In 1908. It was moved in 1979.
- What should I look at on the Higuruma Tennosha Shrine?
- The dragon tail rafters, the tie beam carved as a dragon in the round, the relief on the front beam and the lion side screens.
- When was the Higuruma Tennosha Shrine registered?
- On 2009/01/08.
Basic Information
| Name | Myokyoji Higuruma Tennosha Shrine (妙教寺日車天王社) |
|---|---|
| Location | 712 Takamatsu Inari, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 33-0185 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2009/01/08 (Heisei 21) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, hip-and-gable cypress-bark roof with dormer gable; building area 2.0 square metres |
| Owner | Saijo Inarisan Myokyoji (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Exterior can be seen freely in the grounds (no charge); interior closed |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Myokyoji Higuruma Tennosha Shrine
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007568
- Okayama City — Modern Japanese-style architecture at Saijo Inari Myokyoji, by Yasukawa Mitsuru (Japanese)
- https://www.city.okayama.jp/kankou/cmsfiles/contents/0000005/5279/000179262.pdf
- Saijo Inari official site — Seventy-Seven Subsidiary Shrines (Japanese)
- https://inari.ne.jp/facility/250/
- Saijo Inari official site — Former main sanctuary, Reioden (Japanese)
- https://inari.ne.jp/facility/252/
Last verified: 2026.10.01
