What is the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall?
The Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall (鳥海山大物忌神社吹浦口ノ宮本殿) is a small single-bay Nagare-zukuri shrine sanctuary built around 1711 in Fukura, Yuza Town, Yamagata Prefecture, and it was entered on the national register as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2012.
It stands at the very top of the Fukura Kuchinomiya precinct, facing south from the highest terrace, and houses Ōmonoimi, the deity of Mount Chōkai. Immediately to its west is a hall of identical size for the subsidiary Tsukiyama Shrine. Seen from the front, the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall is the one on the right.
The building is a single-storey wooden structure with a copper-plate roof and a footprint of 16 square meters. The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to around 1711 and records a restoration in 1963.
Its predecessor burned in a fire in the first month of 1706. Local records from Yuza Town and Tsuruoka City say the present hall was rebuilt in 1711 by the Sakai family, lords of the Shōnai domain.
Why the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall is on the register
The Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall was registered under the criterion of buildings that serve as a model of form. Only two of the six registered structures at Fukura qualified this way, this hall and its twin; the other four were registered for their contribution to the historic landscape.
The reason lies in the joinery. The core of the hall rests on round pillars topped with three-part bracket sets, and a carved Kaerumata fills the space between each pair of posts. For a sanctuary only one bay wide, it carries a full set of brackets and carving rather than a simplified version.
The detail the Agency singles out as unusual is the gable. Look at the triangular end of the roof and you will see two tiers of bearing blocks and through-beams stacked on a rainbow beam, with a Taiheizuka post and scrolled Oigata boards set on top. Most gables of this kind use a single post, so the stacked arrangement makes this one read taller and more layered.
What to look for at the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall
The best way to read the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall is side by side with its neighbor. According to Yuza Town, the two halls share the same form and dimensions, differing only in their carvings and in the paintings on the small side screens. Compare the same spot on each building and the differences begin to show.
Three places deserve a close look: the carved kaerumata under the front canopy, the painted wing panels flanking the core, and the stacked gable. The town guide pictures the canopy carving and the wing panel paintings as highlights of this hall.
One evening a year, the ground in front of the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall becomes a stage. On May 4, the eve of the annual festival, performers dance the hanagasa dance of Fukura Dengaku before the two halls, wearing hats trimmed with fresh yamabuki and double cherry blossoms.
Visiting the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall
The Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall sits inside the sacred enclosure formed by the Middle Gate and the tamagaki fence. Visitors cannot enter the enclosure or see the interior; prayers are offered at the Worship Hall on the terrace below.
To see the exterior, climb the stone steps to the Worship Hall and view the hall from outside the fence. Because the distinctive gable is on the side, it is worth checking the building from an angle as well as head-on.
We could not find an official statement on photography. Refrain during rites and prayers, and ask at the amulet counter if unsure. Directions and general visiting information are on the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya page.
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Q&A
- When was the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to around 1711, with a restoration in 1963. It replaced a sanctuary lost to fire in 1706 and is said to have been rebuilt by the Sakai family of the Shōnai domain.
- Can I go inside the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall?
- No. The Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall stands inside a fenced sacred area and its interior is closed. You can view the exterior from outside the fence after climbing to the Worship Hall.
- Why is the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered in 2012 as a model of form. Its round pillars with bracket sets, carved kaerumata, and unusual two-tier gable framing are the features cited.
- How does the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall differ from the Tsukiyama Shrine Main Hall next to it?
- The two halls have the same size and design. They differ in carvings and wing panel paintings. Facing them, the hall of Ōmonoimi is on the right and the Tsukiyama hall is on the left.
- Is there a good day to visit the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall?
- On the evening of May 4, the hanagasa dance of Fukura Dengaku is performed in front of both main halls. Confirm dates and times with the shrine before you go.
Basic Information
| Name | Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Nunokura, Fukura, Yuza-machi, Akumi-gun, Yamagata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2012 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey wooden structure, copper-plate roof, building area 16 m² |
| Owner | Religious Corporation Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine |
| Public Access | Grounds open to worshippers; interior not open to the public |
References
- Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall (Agency for Cultural Affairs database)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009122
- Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Main Hall (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/210295
- Guide to the Mount Chokai Historic Site, PDF (Yuza Town Board of Education)
- https://www.town.yuza.yamagata.jp/uploads/public/archive_0000003229_00/%E3%80%90PDF%E3%80%91%E5%8F%B2%E8%B7%A1%E9%B3%A5%E6%B5%B7%E5%B1%B1%E6%A1%88%E5%86%85.pdf
- Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya (Tsuruoka City)
- https://www.city.tsuruoka.lg.jp/static/sakai400th/yukarinochi/oomonoimi-f.html
- Festivals (Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine)
- https://oomonoimijinja.verse.jp/saiji.html
Last verified: 2026.09.16
