Nagoya, Japan Shrine Visit Report 2026 Moriyama No.3 Shinmeisha Nijikkenya
On August 25, 2026, I visited Shinmeisha in Nijikkenya, Moriyama Ward, Nagoya.
Shinmeisha stands on a small wooded rise surrounded by a modern residential neighborhood. Today, visitors enter the shrine grounds by climbing a stone staircase from the road. The grounds preserve large trees, stone lanterns, komainu guardian statues, several smaller shrines, a large stone statue of Ebisu, a natural-stone purification basin, and a wartime Hōanden building.
One of the most interesting aspects of this shrine is the close connection between its history and the unusual local place name “Nijikkenya.”
According to official information from Moriyama Ward, Naruse Masanari, lord of Inuyama Castle, established twenty residences for samurai under his authority in this area and assigned them to help manage and develop the district. This is said to be the origin of the name “Nijikkenya,” which refers to twenty residences.
According to official information from Moriyama Ward, Shinmeisha was founded in 1615.
Photo Record of Shinmeisha
001 Shinmeisha is located within the wooded area set back slightly from the road.
This view shows Shinmeisha from the opposite side of the road.
The shrine grounds remain on a tree-covered rise within the surrounding residential neighborhood.
002 Entrance and Stone Steps
The wooded grounds of Shinmeisha can be seen beyond the houses.
The shrine is reached by climbing stone steps. The atmosphere changes noticeably from the surrounding residential streets, and a substantial group of trees remains around the shrine.
003 Large Sacred Tree with Shimenawa
A large tree in the shrine grounds is wrapped with a shimenawa sacred rope and paper shide streamers.
Large mature trees remain here despite the shrine's location within a residential area.
004 Stone Staircase of Shinmeisha
This view looks down toward the road from the top of the stone staircase.
It clearly shows that Shinmeisha stands on higher ground than the surrounding neighborhood.
005 Shrine Grounds Viewed from the Stone Steps
After climbing the stone steps, it is easy to see how elevated the shrine grounds are.
One area contains stone monuments, stone lanterns, and natural stones grouped together.
006 World War II Memorial
The memorial stands in an area to the left of the shrine building.
It commemorates people from this area who died in the war.
A stone lantern stands to the right.
007 Unusually Shaped Stone Lantern
The shape of the roof, fire box, and other parts can be examined closely.
008 Present Shrine Building
This is the present shrine building of Shinmeisha.
According to the shrine's official website, a project marking the 400th anniversary of its founding was carried out in 2015, including completion of the protective structure surrounding the main sanctuary.
Two black crests of the Naruse family, retainers of the Owari Tokugawa house, are displayed on the white walls.
Stone lanterns and komainu guardian statues stand on both sides of the front of the building.
009 Shinzen-Type Stone Lantern Inscribed “Kento”
This stone lantern stands in front of the shrine building.
The shaft is carved with the characters “Kento,” meaning that the lantern was dedicated to the shrine.
Several stone lanterns remain within the grounds, showing that stone lanterns continued to be donated over a long period.
According to the shrine's official website, this stone lantern was dedicated together with a stone torii gate in 1928.
010 Matching Stone Lantern
This is the stone lantern standing on the opposite side.
The roof and fire box show changes caused by many years of exposure to the weather.
011 Stone Komainu
This stone komainu stands in front of the shrine building.
It is older than the present protective shrine structure, and weathering can be seen on its surface.
Its eyes are especially striking.
012 Matching Komainu
This is the komainu on the opposite side.
The two statues form a pair positioned in front of the shrine building.
013 Komainu from 1962
The pedestal retains an inscription recording the donation.
The komainu was erected in 1962 by local shrine parishioners.
014 Hōanden Preserved in the Shrine Grounds
The building with white walls and a tiled roof is a former Hōanden.
According to the information board at the shrine, it originally stood at Moriyama Town Youth School and was later moved to the grounds of Shinmeisha.
It survives as a physical record of modern Japanese history.
015 Information about the Hōanden
An information board in the grounds explains the history of the Hōanden.
Before and during World War II, Hōanden buildings at Japanese schools were used to store official portraits of the Emperor and Empress as well as the Imperial Rescript on Education.
After the war, many Hōanden buildings were removed under orders from the Allied occupation authorities. This building, however, was transferred from the former youth school to Shinmeisha and has survived to the present day.
016 Ebisu
A large stone statue of Ebisu is enshrined within the grounds.
Rather than being a small stone figure, it is a large statue close to human height.
017 Close View of Ebisu
This is a closer view of the stone statue of Ebisu.
An information board beside it explains the deity.
018 Stone Monument Recording the History of Shinmeisha
This stone monument records the history of Shinmeisha.
It includes information about the name Nijikkenya, the shrine's connection with the Naruse family, its deities, and the smaller shrines within the grounds.
It was an important on-site source used for this article.
019 Smaller Shrines and Stone Monument
Several smaller shrines stand within the grounds.
The on-site history monument and the shrine's official website identify Tsushima Shrine, Moriyama Ryujin Shrine, and Akiba Shrine.
In front of them is a distinctive stone sculpture combining a dragon, tiger, and bird.
020 Stone Sculpture of a Dragon, Tiger, and Bird
This is a closer view of the stone sculpture.
A dragon, tiger, and winged bird are represented together in a single stone work, making it very different from typical komainu or fox statues.
021 Smaller Shrines
The smaller shrines stand on raised stone bases.
Information boards in front of them identify the shrine names and explain their histories.
022 “Tama-no-Mizu” Purification Basin
This purification basin was hollowed out of a large natural stone.
Behind it is a stone marker inscribed “Tama-no-Mizu,” and the basin also has a dragon-shaped water spout.
Its form is very different from a typical rectangular granite purification basin.
023 Purification Pavilion
This pavilion shelters the “Tama-no-Mizu” purification basin.
The natural-stone basin and dragon-shaped water spout are protected beneath the roof.
024 Another Stone Torii Gate
This stone torii stands on another side of the shrine grounds.
It forms a separate entrance from the main approach.
025 Wide View of the Shrine Grounds
This photograph shows a broad view of the shrine grounds.
The shrine building, stone lanterns, komainu, smaller shrines, and large trees are all arranged within the compact wooded site.
About Shinmeisha
| Name | Shinmeisha |
|---|---|
| Location | 14-55 Nijikkenya, Moriyama Ward, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan |
| Founded | 1615, according to official information from Moriyama Ward |
| Main Deity | Amaterasu Omikami |
| Historical Figures | Naruse Masanari and retainers of the Naruse family |
| Origin of the Place Name | “Nijikkenya” is said to come from twenty samurai residences established in the area |
| Smaller Shrines | Tsushima Shrine, Moriyama Ryujin Shrine, Akiba Shrine |
| Oldest Surviving Munafuda | Said to date from 1703 |
| 1865 | Naruse family retainers dedicated stone lanterns before departing on a military expedition |
| 1922 | Shrine buildings renovated |
| 1928 | Stone torii gate and Shinzen-type stone lanterns dedicated |
| 1954 | Main sanctuary, stone torii along Chiyoda Kaido, and shrine marker rebuilt |
| 2015 | 400th anniversary project and completion of the protective structure around the main sanctuary |
The Name “Nijikkenya” and the Naruse Family
The unusual place name “Nijikkenya” preserves part of the history of this area.
According to official information from Moriyama Ward, Naruse Masanari, lord of Inuyama Castle, established twenty residences here for samurai under his authority and assigned them to help manage and develop the district. The area is said to have become known as “Nijikkenya” because of these twenty residences.
Shinmeisha is traditionally said to have been established as a tutelary shrine for these samurai families.
Shinmeisha, Said to Have Been Founded in 1615
According to official information from Moriyama Ward, Shinmeisha was founded in 1615.
The appearance of the earliest shrine buildings is unknown, but the shrine is said to preserve munafuda dating back to 1703.
A munafuda is a wooden plaque placed inside a building when a shrine or temple structure is built, repaired, or reconstructed. It can record the date, details of the work, patrons, donors, and other people involved. These plaques are valuable historical records for tracing the construction history of a shrine.
Additional munafuda are said to survive from 1739, 1771, 1775, 1779, and 1792, showing that the shrine continued to be maintained throughout the Edo period.
1865: The Chōshū Expedition and Stone Lanterns
According to the official website of Shinmeisha in Nijikkenya, Naruse family retainers from Obata who departed in 1865 for the military expedition against Chōshū Domain dedicated stone lanterns to commemorate their departure.
However, during my visit I could not identify which surviving stone lanterns were the ones dedicated in 1865.
The stone lanterns that could be identified through the shrine's records date from 1928.
1922 Renovation of the Shrine Buildings
The history section of the shrine's official website records that the shrine buildings were renovated in 1922.
Today, the grounds are reached by stone steps from the south and stand noticeably above the surrounding residential neighborhood.
Over the shrine's long history, not only the buildings but also the arrangement and appearance of the grounds have changed.
1928: Stone Torii and Shinzen-Type Stone Lanterns
According to the shrine's official website, a stone torii gate and Shinzen-type stone lanterns were dedicated in 1928.
The Shinzen-type stone lantern photographed in front of the shrine building is recorded as one of the stone lanterns dedicated in 1928.
1954: New Main Sanctuary and Stone Torii
In October 1954, a new main sanctuary was built. At the same time, the stone torii gate and shrine marker along Chiyoda Kaido were also newly constructed.
The Hōanden Preserved at Shinmeisha
A wartime Hōanden building remains within the shrine grounds.
Hōanden were buildings used at Japanese schools to store official portraits of the Emperor and Empress together with the Imperial Rescript on Education.
Many Hōanden were removed after World War II, but the building formerly used by Moriyama Town Youth School was transferred to the grounds of Shinmeisha.
Today, it remains as a physical record of modern Japanese history.
Smaller Shrines within Shinmeisha
The on-site Shinmeisha history monument and the shrine's official website identify three smaller shrines within the grounds: Tsushima Shrine, Moriyama Ryujin Shrine, and Akiba Shrine.
Tsushima Shrine
Takehaya Susanoo-no-Mikoto is enshrined at Tsushima Shrine.
Susanoo is closely associated with the tradition of Tsushima worship.
Moriyama Ryujin Shrine
Moriyama Ryujin Shrine enshrines three deities associated with water.
- Mizuhanome-no-Kami
- Takaokami-no-Kami
- Kuraokami-no-Kami
A large stone sculpture featuring a dragon also stands nearby.
Akiba Shrine
Hino-Kagutsuchi-no-Okami is enshrined at Akiba Shrine.
He is a deity associated with fire and is worshiped in the Akiba tradition as a protector against destructive fires.
It is also notable that Moriyama Ryujin Shrine, associated with water, and Akiba Shrine, associated with protection from fire, stand within the same shrine grounds.
Ebisu in the Shrine Grounds
Separate from the three smaller shrines, a large stone statue of Ebisu is also enshrined within the grounds.
During my visit, I photographed both the Ebisu statue and the information board beside it.
Alongside the main deity of Shinmeisha and the deities of its smaller shrines, the grounds also preserve a tradition of worship connected with Ebisu, widely known as a deity of good fortune and commerce.
History Timeline of Shinmeisha
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1615 | According to official information from Moriyama Ward, Shinmeisha was founded. |
| 1703 | The oldest surviving munafuda is said to date from this year. Munafuda are wooden plaques recording shrine construction, repairs, dates, and people involved. |
| 1739 | A munafuda is said to survive from this year. |
| 1771 | A munafuda is said to survive from this year. |
| 1775 | A munafuda is said to survive from this year. |
| 1779 | A munafuda is said to survive from this year. |
| 1792 | A munafuda is said to survive from this year. |
| 1865 | According to the shrine's official website, Naruse family retainers from Obata who departed for the military expedition against Chōshū Domain dedicated stone lanterns to commemorate their departure. I could not identify these specific lanterns during my visit. |
| 1922 | The shrine buildings were renovated. |
| 1928 | According to the shrine's official website, a stone torii gate and Shinzen-type stone lanterns were dedicated. |
| 1940s | The Hōanden formerly used by Moriyama Town Youth School was transferred to the grounds of Shinmeisha. |
| 1954 | A new main sanctuary was built. The stone torii gate and shrine marker along Chiyoda Kaido were also newly constructed. |
| 2000 | Moriyama Ryujin Shrine is said to have been enshrined here. |
| 2015 | A project marking the shrine's 400th anniversary was carried out, and the protective structure surrounding the main sanctuary was completed. |
Deities of Shinmeisha
| Deity | About the Deity |
|---|---|
| Amaterasu Omikami | The main deity of Shinmeisha. A solar deity and one of the central deities in Japanese mythology. |
| Takehaya Susanoo-no-Mikoto | Enshrined at Tsushima Shrine within the grounds. |
| Mizuhanome-no-Kami | A deity associated with water, enshrined at Moriyama Ryujin Shrine. |
| Takaokami-no-Kami | A deity associated with water and rain, enshrined at Moriyama Ryujin Shrine. |
| Kuraokami-no-Kami | A water deity enshrined at Moriyama Ryujin Shrine. |
| Hino-Kagutsuchi-no-Okami | A fire deity enshrined at Akiba Shrine and associated with protection from destructive fires. |
Final Thoughts
Although Shinmeisha in Nijikkenya now stands within a modern residential neighborhood, its history connects the origin of the Nijikkenya place name, the retainers of the Naruse family, surviving Edo-period munafuda, the stone lantern dedication recorded in 1865, the 1928 stone torii and Shinzen-type stone lanterns, later shrine reconstruction, the wartime Hōanden, and the smaller shrines that remain in the grounds today.
During this visit, I was able to record not only the history of the shrine but also the tradition of the unidentified 1865 stone lanterns, the 1928 Shinzen-type lanterns, the 1962 komainu, the Hōanden, the stone Ebisu statue, the natural-stone purification basin, Moriyama Ryujin Shrine and the other smaller shrines, and the unusual stone sculpture combining a dragon, tiger, and bird.
One of the most valuable aspects of Shinmeisha is that information preserved on the shrine's official website can still be compared with stone lanterns, statues, buildings, inscriptions, and monuments that survive within the grounds today.
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Recorded on August 25, 2026
Written on August 27, 2026