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Take Shrine's Treasure House in the Azekura Style

 At Take Shrine stands a treasure house built in the azekura style (the
buildings are made of triangularly cut logs), which was designated by Hiroshima
Prefecture as an important cultural property in 1954. A little more than thirty
buildings in the azekura style now remain in Japan. In the case of Take Shrine,
however, the logs are cut squarely, revealing unique, beautiful lines inside and
outside of the walls. The shape of the logs, like abacus beads, is unique and has
no equal in other buildings in Japan.
 In 1868, the Asano family, the owners of Hiroshima Castle, contributed the
treasure house, which had been situated in Inari Shrine of Hiroshima Castle, to
Take Shrine. The treasure house had been built early in the Edo period, around
the time Asano entered Hiroshima to administer the region.
 In September, 1915, Take Shrine caught fire, but the treasure house survived.
It remains an important historic building to this day.
 According to Nihonshoki, a history of ancient Japan, Japan's legendary first
emperor Jimmu stopped by Take Shrine when he made a long march to eastern
provinces. The shrine is also called Enomiya because in the book Nihonshoki,
the shrine that emperor Jimmu visited was called Enomiya.
 In the nearby Yahata district, there is also a flat, one-tatami mat size stone
that the emperor Jimmu was supposed to have rested on.
Azekura style, rare in Japan (Photograph taken circa 1994)


Photo

Azekura style, rare in Japan (Photograph taken circa 1994)

Memo

 Many historic sites rest in Fuchu-cho, which in ancient times was the metropolis for Aki Province. There are, for example, Take Shrine, Shimo-Okada site, supposedly an Aki Province rest station for travellers (described in Enkishiki, the 10th century book stipulating national regulations), Doryuji Temple built in the Heian period by Aki Province and the statue of the Yakushi-Nyorai Buddhism guardian of health, built in 1201. In 1984, Fuchu-cho opened a museum of history and folklore to present visitors an opportunity to learn the history of Fuchu-cho.
Address 3-1-13, Miyano-machi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun
Access Take a bus bound for Fuchuyamada from Hiroshima Station; get off at Fuchu Enomiya;
a 1-minute walk.
Map Click here.

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