Daimon inari jinja

Architecture of Tomimasa Tatekawa

Nagawa Town was formed by the merger of Nagato Town and Wada Village, and the Inari Shrine is located on the former Nagato Town side.
Surrounded by a dense cedar forest, the bright red torii stands out even in the dim light during the day. The central plaque, inscribed with "Inari Shrine" in gold, is adorned with intricate carvings of ascending dragons.

Inside the shrine grounds, on the right, there is a very tall sumo wrestling mound, which is rare and valuable in sumo history and is designated as a cultural property by the town. Two komainu statues flank the stone steps, leading to the main hall surrounded by a protective structure.

The main hall, contrasting with the red torii, is made of unpainted wood. It is a nagare-zukuri style building with a cypress bark roof. The carvings include rabbits on the gable, dragons on the rainbow beams, lions on the wooden brackets, peonies, shells, and waves, showcasing Tomimasa's detailed and precise architectural sculptures.