The purification pavilion at the end of the south path
Sumiyoshi Taisha South Temizuya Pavilion (住吉大社南手水舎, Minami Temizusha) is a late Edo-period purification pavilion at the end of the southern side approach, parallel to the main approach, at Sumiyoshi Taisha in Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2018/05/10. It is an open-sided timber structure with a hipped-and-gabled tiled roof covering 8.5 square metres, and the water basin is included in the registration.
Walk east from the South Side Approach Kaku Torii and the path ends here. A stone basin sits in the middle, and worshippers rinse their hands and mouth before going on to the main halls.
A small building with a lot of craft
It is one bay square, with the ridge running east to west. The posts have kichōmen chamfers, the brackets project one step (degumi), the eaves have two layers of rafters fanned out at the corners, and the ceiling is coffered. The official description calls the Sumiyoshi Taisha South Temizuya Pavilion small but splendid, adding colour to the traditional layout of the grounds.
A kichōmen chamfer cuts the corner of a post and adds a small step at each edge, fiddly work. Degumi brackets push the support for the eaves one step out from the post line. Fan rafters radiate at the corners like the ribs of a folding fan, a technique typical of Zen-style buildings. All of this is more than a one-bay water pavilion strictly needs.
It dates from the late Edo period, after the main halls were rebuilt in 1810. Many of the service buildings in the grounds were rebuilt in modern times; here, Edo craftsmen layered their techniques onto a very small structure. Look up and you can see the grid of the coffered ceiling against the rafters fanning out beyond it.
What to look for, and visiting
The eaves and ceiling are the thing to see. After rinsing your hands, step outside the posts and look up into a corner of the eaves to see the fan rafters. The stepped chamfers on the posts are at hand height.
The Sumiyoshi Taisha South Temizuya Pavilion is still in use and can be used and viewed freely during opening hours, at no charge. Opening hours and directions are on the Sumiyoshi Taisha page.
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Q&A
- Where is the Sumiyoshi Taisha South Temizuya Pavilion?
- At the end of the southern side approach, straight east from the South Side Approach Kaku Torii.
- What should I look at on the South Temizuya?
- The fan rafters at the corners of the eaves, the coffered ceiling, the stepped chamfers on the posts and the projecting brackets.
- When was the Sumiyoshi Taisha South Temizuya Pavilion built?
- In the late Edo period. It was registered with its water basin on 2018/05/10.
- Can I still use the South Temizuya?
- Yes. You can rinse your hands and mouth at the basin before going on to the main halls.
- How big is the Sumiyoshi Taisha South Temizuya Pavilion?
- One bay square and open-sided, covering 8.5 square metres.
Basic Information
| Name | Sumiyoshi Taisha South Temizuya Pavilion (住吉大社南手水舎) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2-9-89 Sumiyoshi, Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 27-734 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2018/05/10 (Heisei 30) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, open-sided, hipped-and-gabled tiled roof; area 8.5 square metres; with water basin |
| Owner | Sumiyoshi Taisha (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | In use; open during shrine hours; no charge |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Sumiyoshi Taisha South Temizuya Pavilion
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012408
- Osaka Prefecture — Designation report on Sumiyoshi Taisha, with a list of its protected buildings (Japanese)
- https://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/documents/26540/01_sumiyoshitaisya_sitei.pdf
- Sumiyoshi Taisha official site — Architecture
- https://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/about/architect.html
Last verified: 2026.10.01
