Namura Shrine

A Shrine with Medieval Buildings in Two Precincts

The Namura Shrine (苗村神社, Namura Jinja) is an ancient listed shrine at Ayado, Ryuo Town, Gamo District, Shiga Prefecture, whose late Kamakura west main hall was designated a National Treasure in 1955; its east main hall, two-storey gate, portable shrine storehouse and the Hachiman and Juzenji precinct shrines are Important Cultural Properties.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that the grounds are divided into east and west precincts, each with its own main hall, and that medieval buildings survive together.

The west main hall, the Juzenji shrine and the storehouse stand in the west precinct.

The Six Buildings

According to the Agency, the west main hall is a three-bay nagare-style shrine; a ridge tag records its founding in 1217 and its raising in 1308, and its style agrees with a rebuilding at that time. The east main hall is a mid-Muromachi one-bay nagare-style shrine with a cypress-bark roof, designated with two ridge tags.

The gate is a late Muromachi two-storey gate, hip-and-gable with a thatched roof, designated with two old timbers. The portable shrine storehouse, four bays by two and gabled with a cypress-bark roof, is described by the Agency as an unusual survival.

The Hachiman and Juzenji precinct shrines are both small mid-Muromachi one-bay nagare-style halls; the Agency notes the fine detailing of the Juzenji shrine despite its simplicity.

A Precinct of Medieval Buildings

Around the National Treasure west main hall, the east main hall, gate, storehouse and two precinct shrines survive, showing shrine architecture from the late Kamakura to the late Muromachi period in one place.

The thatched gate and the rare storehouse add to the variety of buildings.

Visiting Namura Shrine

No official visitor information could be found.

Please follow the shrine's guidance when visiting.