An Open Hall at the Foot of the Peak
The Tarobogu Aga Shrine Worship Hall (太郎坊宮阿賀神社拝殿) is a worship hall open on all four sides of the end of the Edo period (1830 to 1868) in Owakicho, Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on September 10, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a copper roof and a building area of 24 square metres; registration number 25-0428.
An Open Dance-Hall Form
The Tarobogu Aga Shrine Worship Hall stands at the foot of the rock peak at the centre of the precinct, facing east. It is a hall of 3 by 3 bays with a hip-and-gable copper roof entered at the gable end, and verandas all round (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Open on all four sides like a dance hall, it has a coffered ceiling, three-part brackets with carved ends, carved struts in the centre bay of each face and radiating rafters (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes that it is a rare early modern building at the shrine that keeps the traditional layout of the precinct, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the open sides, the coffered ceiling and the radiating rafters of the eaves (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Aga Shrine (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on visiting hours or access was found. The shrine precinct as a whole is covered on the Tarobogu Aga Shrine group page.
Q&A
- When was the Worship Hall built?
- At the end of the Edo period, between 1830 and 1868 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Where does it stand?
- At the foot of the rock peak at the centre of the precinct, facing east.
- What form is it?
- A 3 by 3 bay hip-and-gable hall entered at the gable, open on all four sides.
- Why is it valued?
- As a rare Edo-period building at the shrine, keeping the traditional layout.
- When was the Tarobogu Aga Shrine Worship Hall registered?
- On September 10, 2019 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Tarobogu Aga Shrine Worship Hall (太郎坊宮阿賀神社拝殿) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2247 Owakicho, Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2019/09/10 (Reiwa 1) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, single storey, copper roof, 24 m² |
| Owner | Aga Shrine |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Tarobogu Aga Shrine Worship Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012945
Last verified: 2026.10.19
