賀茂神社
3729-9 Mita, Horikane, Azumino City
Kamo Shrine, located in the Mita district of former Horikane Village.
It is situated on the mountainside of a residential area, with a steep approach path.
Surrounded by trees extending from the mountains, the shrine grounds are an open, sunlit area.
At the entrance stands a stone myojin torii gate.
The gabled kagura-den (sacred dance hall) in the front has no doors or walls, allowing a clear view to the haiden (worship hall) beyond.
The haiden, unlike the common hirairi (entrance on the long side) gable roofs in the Azumino area, has an irimoya (hip-and-gable) roof with a gable on the front.
The stone steps leading up are flanked by guardian dogs (komainu), and the haiden is set atop an additional flight of steps.
The honden (main hall) is a single-bay nagare-zukuri (flowing style) structure built in the mid-Edo period.
The carpenter, Toyohachi Asakawa, is said to have been greatly influenced by Chozamemon Shibamiya of the Osumi school.
The plain wood structure of the honden features distinctive carvings, including the well-known gourd and mice on the gable decorations, and chrysanthemums and waves on the front.
It is also said to incorporate techniques from the Tachikawa school.
Among the buildings Toyohachi Asakawa worked on, this is considered the oldest in the Azumino region.
| Location | 3729-9 Mita, Horikane, Azumino City |
|---|---|
| Website | None |
| Deities | Wakumusubi no Mikoto, Tatekanake Mikoto, Tamayorihime no Mikoto, Takeminakata no Mikoto |
| Main Hall | City Important Cultural Property Kansei 4 (1792) |
|---|---|
| Builder | Toyohachi Asakawa |
| Architectural Style | Single-bay nagare-zukuri, copper roof |
