This unusual gate of the Oyama Shrine in Kanazawa was built 2 years after the shrine was moved on its current location, on the site of a former villa belonging to the Maeda clan, the family that ruled Kanazawa during the Edo period.

The gate was designed by the Dutch architect Holtman to include both Asian and Western architectural elements. It is believed that the upper part, with European style stained glass, used to belong to a lighthouse. Due to its uniqueness, the gate was designated in 1950 as Important Cultural Asset.

Oyama Shrine, Kanazawa

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Kobuntei clover room, Hagi-no-ma