A shrine to Kato Kiyomasa
The Myokyoji Seishoko Hall (妙教寺清正公堂, Myōkyō-ji Seishōkō-dō) is a small one-bay shrine of 1909 at the south-eastern edge of the grounds of Saijo Inari Myokyoji in Takamatsu Inari, Kita Ward, Okayama City, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2009/01/08. It is dedicated to Kato Kiyomasa, the late 16th-century warlord known in Nichiren circles as Seishoko.
The temple explains that Kiyomasa was a devout follower of the Lotus Sutra and so came to be counted among the guardian deities who protect it. Saijo Inari holds the Seishoko festival every year on the third Thursday of May, when the temple's priests turn out together for the service.
The Myokyoji Seishoko Hall stands apart from the main hall and the Reioden, on a small rise at the south-eastern corner of the grounds, facing south. It is the one registered building set off on its own.
Eaves and veranda thick with brackets
The shrine is a one-bay hip-and-gable building roofed in copper, with a one-bay porch at the front. Its building area is just 1.5 square metres.
For its size, the bracketing is extraordinary. The eaves rest on three-stepped bracket sets packed between the posts as well as on them, with tail rafters carved as dragons. The supports under the veranda and the outer step are four-stepped bracket sets too, so tier after tier of timber arms projects from the roof down to the floor.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the eaves and veranda as busily decorated with bracketing. The Myokyoji Seishoko Hall shares the late Meiji taste of the ornate subsidiary shrines up the hill, but here the brackets themselves are the ornament.
What to look for, and visiting
The Myokyoji Seishoko Hall stands on a rise at the south-eastern corner of the grounds and can be seen at any time, free of charge. The interior is not open.
In front of it, follow the bracketing down from the dragons under the eaves to the stepped supports beneath the veranda. On the day of the Seishoko festival a service is held here, so watch from a respectful distance. Opening hours and directions are on the Saijo Inari Myokyoji page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Okayama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Myokyoji Seishoko Hall
- [ Kurashiki Bikan District & Korakuen Garden Tours ]
Q&A
- Who is enshrined in the Myokyoji Seishoko Hall?
- The warlord Kato Kiyomasa, called Seishoko, venerated as a guardian of the Lotus Sutra because of his devotion to it.
- Where is the Myokyoji Seishoko Hall?
- On a small rise at the south-eastern corner of the grounds, away from the main hall and the Reioden, facing south.
- What should I look at on the Seishoko Hall?
- The three-stepped bracket sets with dragon tail rafters under the eaves, and the four-stepped brackets under the veranda.
- When is the Seishoko festival?
- Every year on the third Thursday of May.
- When was the Myokyoji Seishoko Hall built?
- In 1909. It was registered on 2009/01/08.
Basic Information
| Name | Myokyoji Seishoko Hall (妙教寺清正公堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 712 Takamatsu Inari, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 33-0201 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2009/01/08 (Heisei 21) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, hip-and-gable copper roof; 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 Seishoko Hall
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007584
- 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 — Seishoko Hall (Japanese)
- https://inari.ne.jp/facility/212/
- Saijo Inari official site — Frequently asked questions (Japanese)
- https://inari.ne.jp/qa/
- Saijo Inari official site — Annual events (Japanese)
- https://inari.ne.jp/event/
Last verified: 2026.10.01
