A Showa-era shrine in the middle of the row
The Myokyoji Sanko Tennosha Shrine (妙教寺三光天王社, Myōkyō-ji Sankō Tennōsha) is a shrine of 1927 in the middle of the row 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.
Sanko, the "three lights", means the sun, the moon and the stars. An Okayama City article names the carpenter as Asakusaya Shinzo; Asakusaya is a local workshop name that recurs on subsidiary shrines and the water pavilion from the Taisho into the Showa era. The Myokyoji Sanko Tennosha Shrine shows a local carpenter, trained in the wake of the Nagoya master, at full stretch early in the Showa era.
Dragons on every beam
The shrine is one bay wide at the front and two bays along the sides and back, under a hip-and-gable roof of cypress bark with a small dormer gable, and a one-bay porch with a curving karahafu eave at the front. Its building area is 1.5 square metres.
The main body has projecting bracket sets, and the supports under the veranda step out four times, with bearing blocks lined up along continuous bracket arms. The beam across the porch front and the beams tying porch to body are carved as dragons, and the infill panels, door jambs, side screens and wainscoting are all filled with carving.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the Myokyoji Sanko Tennosha Shrine as filled with gorgeous carved ornament. Hardly a surface is left plain, and it stands among the most decorative of the subsidiary shrines.
What to look for, and visiting
The Myokyoji Sanko Tennosha Shrine is in the middle of the shrines east of the Reioden's inner sanctuary and can be seen at any time, free of charge. The interior is not open.
From the front, look for the dragon lying along the porch beam; from an angle, the dragons on the beams linking porch and body. Crouch down to see the carving on the side screens and wainscoting at eye level. Opening hours and directions are on the Saijo Inari Myokyoji page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Okayama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Myokyoji Sanko Tennosha Shrine
- [ Kurashiki Bikan District & Korakuen Garden Tours ]
Q&A
- Where is the Myokyoji Sanko Tennosha Shrine?
- In the middle of the row of subsidiary shrines east of the Reioden's inner sanctuary.
- When was the Myokyoji Sanko Tennosha Shrine built?
- In 1927. It was moved in 1979.
- What should I look at on the Sanko Tennosha Shrine?
- The porch and tie beams carved as dragons, and the carving that fills the panels, side screens and wainscoting.
- Who built the Myokyoji Sanko Tennosha Shrine?
- The local carpenter Asakusaya Shinzo, according to an Okayama City article.
- Can I see inside the Myokyoji Sanko Tennosha Shrine?
- No. The exterior can be seen freely and at no charge.
Basic Information
| Name | Myokyoji Sanko Tennosha Shrine (妙教寺三光天王社) |
|---|---|
| Location | 712 Takamatsu Inari, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 33-0181 |
| 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 1.5 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 Sanko Tennosha Shrine
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007564
- 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
