Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine Nishimiya Main Hall: A Main Hall of 1594
Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine Nishimiya Main Hall (北口本宮富士浅間神社西宮本殿, Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Jinja Nishimiya Honden, also read Nishinomiya) is a shrine sanctuary built in 1594 in Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on March 31, 1953.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs reads the name Nishimiya Honden, while Yamanashi Prefecture and Fujiyoshida City read it Nishinomiya Honden; either way it means the main hall of the west shrine. The Agency dates it to the Momoyama period and classes it as a one-bay Nagare-zukuri shrine with a Hiwadabuki cypress-bark roof. No attached items are included in the designation.
It stands west of the present main hall and faces north, which the Agency describes as on the right when you face the main hall. According to the prefecture, it was formerly called the Daijingu.
The Nishimiya Main Hall of Kitaguchi Hongu: Main Hall for 21 Years
It was built by Asano Ujishige, who governed the Gunnai district. Fujiyoshida City says he raised it in 1594 as the shrine's main hall. The previous main hall, built by Takeda Shingen, was moved at that point to become the Togu.
The Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine Nishimiya Main Hall did not hold that position for long. In 1615, 21 years later, Torii Narutsugu of the Yamura domain built the present main hall, and the shrine records that Asano's building was moved to the west and became the Nishimiya. The shrine's history also notes that in 1909 a shrine written 大神社, which had stood in the Suwanai area of Kamiyoshida, was merged into it.
What to Look For at the Nishimiya Main Hall of Kitaguchi Hongu
The Agency for Cultural Affairs says the Kitaguchi Hongu Nishimiya Main Hall preserves its old timbers well and singles out the carving below the front doors and the Kaerumata frog-leg struts as especially fine. Yamanashi Prefecture notes that, as a former main hall, it is built with relatively heavy members and has a confident, powerful presence, and that its decoration throughout shows the character of Momoyama architecture.
Fujiyoshida City describes a core one bay wide and two bays deep with a one-bay porch in front, and points to the arabesque carving and decorative metal fittings as typical of the Momoyama period. Both former main halls are of the nagare-zukuri type, but the city describes the Togu as only one bay deep, so the Nishimiya is deeper and more heavily built. Built 33 years apart, the two former main halls make the difference in scale easy to see when viewed one after the other.
Start at the front doors. The carving and kaerumata that the Agency names are the richest part of the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine Nishimiya Main Hall; from there, follow the arabesque carving and the placement of the metal fittings to get a sense of how densely Momoyama builders decorated.
Seeing the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine Nishimiya Main Hall
The Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine Nishimiya Main Hall stands west of the main hall, at the back right as you face the worship hall, and can be seen from within the grounds. The interior is not opened. The shrine's English page notes that a torii on the west side of the precinct marks the entrance to the Yoshida Trail, and the Nishimiya stands on the way there.
The shrine's website gives no rules on photography; avoid ceremonies and ask at the shrine office if unsure. Directions and general visiting information are on the page for Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine.
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Q&A
- When was the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine Nishimiya Main Hall built and designated?
- It was built in 1594 and designated an Important Cultural Property on March 31, 1953.
- Who built the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine Nishimiya Main Hall?
- Asano Ujishige, ruler of the Gunnai district, built it as the shrine's main hall. The shrine says it was moved west and became the Nishimiya when the present main hall was built in 1615.
- What should I look at on the Kitaguchi Hongu Nishimiya Main Hall?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs singles out the carving below the front doors and the kaerumata struts. Fujiyoshida City points to the arabesque carving and metal fittings as typical Momoyama work.
- How does the Kitaguchi Hongu Nishimiya Main Hall differ from the Togu Main Hall?
- Both are nagare-zukuri shrines, but Fujiyoshida City describes the Nishimiya as two bays deep and the Togu as one, and the prefecture notes the Nishimiya's relatively heavy members.
- Where is the Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine Nishimiya Main Hall, and can I go inside?
- It stands west of the main hall, facing north, at the back right as you face the worship hall. The exterior can be seen from the grounds; the interior is not opened.
Basic Information
| Name | Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine Nishimiya Main Hall (北口本宮富士浅間神社西宮本殿) |
|---|---|
| Location | Kamiyoshida Suwanai, Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | March 31, 1953 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 1 bay wide, 2 bays deep; one-bay nagare-zukuri shrine, 1-bay porch, cypress-bark roof |
| Owner | Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine |
| Public Access | Grounds open to worshippers. Exterior visible from the grounds; interior not open |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine Nishimiya Main Hall
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/847
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine Main Hall
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/846
- Yamanashi Prefecture: Cultural Properties Guide KB0026, Nishimiya Main Hall
- https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp/bunka/bunkazaihogo/bunkazai_data/yamanashinobunkazai_kb0026.html
- Fujiyoshida City: Nationally Designated Cultural Properties
- https://www.city.fujiyoshida.yamanashi.jp/page/1096.html
- Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine: History (Japanese)
- https://www.sengenjinja.jp/yuisho/index.html
- Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine: English page
- https://www.sengenjinja.jp/english/index.html
Last verified: 2026.10.03
