What is the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor?
The Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor (鳥海山大物忌神社吹浦口ノ宮拝殿及び登廊) is a worship hall with a covered stairway to the Middle Gate on the middle terrace of the shrine in Fukura, Yuza Town, Yamagata Prefecture, dated in the national database to 1943 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2012.
It stands one level below the twin main halls, centered in front of them. From the approach, pass the Lower Worship Hall, climb about one hundred stone steps, and go through the third torii: the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor faces you at the top.
The building is a single-storey wooden structure with a copper-plate roof and a footprint of 116 square meters. It was restored in 1990.
The date needs a caveat. The Agency for Cultural Affairs lists the era as Showa 18 (1943) and the period as early Showa, but its Western-year field reads 1885, which would fall in the Meiji era. Two of the three fields point to 1943, so this article follows them, but the primary source is inconsistent.
How the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor is built, and why it is registered
The worship hall is five bays wide and three deep, with an Irimoya-zukuri hip-and-gable roof and a one-bay Kōhai canopy over the entrance. At the back, a one-bay square projection leads into the ascending corridor that climbs to the Middle Gate. The hall and corridor were built as one continuous structure, which is why they are registered together.
The pillars are round, and the brackets are the plainest type: a single bearing block with a bracket arm on top. The three central bays of the front hold paneled double doors, flanked by latticed Renji-mado windows. Ornament is kept to a minimum; the doors do the work of signaling rank.
The Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, and the Agency describes it as solemn in bearing. It sits midway along the axis linking the Lower Worship Hall with the sanctuary, and the covered stairway is what physically ties it to the enclosure above.
What to look for at the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor
Pause at the top of the steps to take in the facade of the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor. The three paneled doors and the latticed side windows are laid out symmetrically, with the canopy marking the center.
Then walk to the side. From there you can see the roof of the stairway rising behind the hall toward the Middle Gate, which makes the stepped section of the precinct easy to read.
Compare the brackets with those of the main halls above. The sanctuaries use three-part bracket sets; the worship hall uses the simplest form, a deliberate step down in formality even though both have round pillars.
Visiting the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor
Ordinary visitors pray in front of the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor; the grounds are open to all.
Going inside is generally reserved for those who request a prayer service, which the shrine's website describes as taking place in the worship hall. The corridor and the Middle Gate lie behind the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor and cannot be approached from outside.
No official guidance on photography was found, so refrain during services and rites. The climb involves about one hundred steps; wear sturdy shoes. Directions are on the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya page.
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Q&A
- When was the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor built?
- The national database gives Showa 18 (1943) for the era but 1885 in its Western-year field, so the record is inconsistent. The building was restored in 1990.
- What is the ascending corridor of the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor?
- It is a roofed passage that climbs from a projection at the back of the worship hall to the Middle Gate on the terrace above. The hall and corridor are registered as a single property.
- Can I go inside the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor?
- Generally only when attending a prayer service. Everyday worship takes place in front of the hall.
- How do I reach the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor?
- Walk up the approach, pass the Lower Worship Hall on your right, climb about one hundred steps, and go through the third torii. The hall is straight ahead.
- Why is the Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor a Registered Tangible Cultural Property?
- It was registered in 2012 for its contribution to the historic landscape. The hall and its stairway together form the link between the lower grounds and the sanctuary.
Basic Information
| Name | Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor |
|---|---|
| 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 116 m² |
| Owner | Religious Corporation Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine |
| Public Access | Grounds open to worshippers; interior used for prayer services only |
References
- Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor (Agency for Cultural Affairs database)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009126
- Chokaisan Omonoimi Shrine Fukura Kuchinomiya Worship Hall and Ascending Corridor (Cultural Heritage Online)
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/254689
- 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 official website
- https://oomonoimijinja.verse.jp/
Last verified: 2026.09.16
