A Hall for Cold-Water Purification
The Ontake Shrine Suigyodo (御嶽神社水行堂) is a hall for purification with cold water of around 1867 in Kitaminemachi, Ota Ward, Tokyo, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on February 25, 2016 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a sheet-iron roof and a building area of 18 square metres, with a well; registration number 13-0359.
An Ablution Hall with a Carved Dragon
The Suigyodo stands to the west of the precinct facing east; it was built for purification with cold water and has its own well (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Gabled and entered at the gable end, it is three bays square inside, divided into front and back rooms.
Cusped windows open in the side bays of the front, the tie beam is shaped as a rainbow beam, and a carved dragon transom sits above (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The shape of the beam ends shows the character of its period.
According to the Ota City bulletin, the small shrine from which Ontake Shrine grew is said to have been built in 1535, and in 1831 a shrine building said to be the first branch in the Kanto region of Mount Ontake in Kiso was raised. The ascetic Issan found the small shrine here, built the shrine buildings and spread the Ontake faith.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the cusped windows and the carved dragon transom above the front beam (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Ontake Shrine (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on public access was found. The ablution hall, the shrine office and the Issan Shrine Soreisha are introduced together on the Ontake Shrine page.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- Around 1867 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What was it for?
- Purification with cold water, with its own well.
- How is it decorated?
- With cusped windows and a carved dragon transom.
- How did the shrine begin?
- As a small shrine said to date from 1535 (Ota City).
- When was the Ontake Shrine Suigyodo registered?
- On February 25, 2016 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Ontake Shrine Suigyodo (御嶽神社水行堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 145-1 Kitaminemachi, Ota Ward, Tokyo |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2016/02/25 (Heisei 28) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, sheet-iron roof, 18 m², with well |
| Owner | Ontake Shrine |
| Public Access | No official information on access |
References
- Ontake Shrine Suigyodo (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010926
- Ota City bulletin, September 21, 2019 (Ota City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.ota.tokyo.jp/kuho/kuho_web/20190921/tokusyu.html
Last verified: 2026.10.24
