宇治神社
1 Ujiyamada, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture
Located on the east bank of the Uji River, opposite Byodoin Temple.
Until the Meiji Restoration, it was considered one shrine along with Ujigami Shrine to the east.
The site is associated with the detached palace of Emperor Ojin, father of the enshrined deity, Prince Uji no Wakiiratsuko.
Ujigami Shrine was referred to as the upper detached palace shrine, while Uji Shrine was called the young shrine or lower detached palace shrine.
Together, they were known as Rikyu Shrine or Rikyu Hachiman.
After the establishment of Byodoin, it also served as its guardian shrine.
Passing through the Myojin torii by the river and continuing on the stone-paved path, stone steps lead to the shrine.
The main hall visible at the front is an irimoya-zukuri structure with a rectangular plan.
Behind it, surrounded by a sacred fence, stands the main sanctuary.
Originally, there were wooden guardian dog statues outside the sacred fence.
These statues, created in the Kamakura period, consist of a pair: one with an open mouth (Agyo) and the other with a closed mouth and a horn (Ungyo).
The main sanctuary is a large-scale three-bay nagare-zukuri structure.
Built in the late Kamakura period, traces of coloring remain on the pillars and frog-leg struts.
Surrounding it on the front and sides is a veranda with simple construction and no carvings.
The contrast between the vibrant colors of the sacred fence and the simplicity of the shrine buildings is striking.
| Location | 1 Ujiyamada, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Website | None |
| Deity | Prince Uji no Wakiiratsuko |
| Main Sanctuary | National Important Cultural Property Late Kamakura Period |
|---|---|
| Architectural Style | Three-bay nagare-zukuri, hinoki bark roofing |