Uesugi Shrine Keishoden

Uesugi Shrine Keishoden is a treasure hall on the grounds of Uesugi Shrine in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture, which opened in 1923 (Taisho 12) alongside the reconstruction of Uesugi Shrine. The multi-tiered building, designed by Yonezawa-born architect Ito Chuta, is registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property. It is a separate facility from the Yonezawa City Uesugi Museum (Denkoku no Mori), operated independently by Uesugi Shrine itself.

Uesugi Family Sword and Armor Collection

Keishoden houses and displays over 1,000 items spanning the Heian through Edo periods, centered on relics of successive Uesugi lords — Uesugi Kenshin, Uesugi Kagekatsu, and Uesugi Yozan — as well as senior retainer Naoe Kanetsugu. The collection includes armor, weaponry, swords, paintings, calligraphy, Buddhist ritual implements, ceramics, and clothing, comprising 132 Important Cultural Properties and 8 Yamagata Prefecture-designated Cultural Properties, making it one of the largest treasure halls in the Tohoku region.

Notable Holdings

Highlights include armor said to have been worn by Naoe Kanetsugu, featuring the famous "Ai" (愛, "love") crest on its front ornament; the Important Cultural Property "Iroiro-odoshi Haramaki" armor worn by Uesugi Kenshin; and the Yamagata Prefecture-designated "Murasaki-ito Odoshi Iyo-zane Gomai-do Gusoku" armor (with sun-disc front ornament) worn by Uesugi Kagekatsu. These artifacts trace the concrete history of the Uesugi family's warriors from the Sengoku through Edo periods.

Architecture and Access

The Keishoden building itself is a highlight, with its multi-tiered roof design considered one of Ito Chuta's representative works. The hall closes during winter (late November to late March), with special openings during the Yonezawa Snow Lantern Festival in February. Located a short walk from the "Uesugi Jinja-mae" bus stop reached via community bus from Yonezawa Station, it draws many visitors combined with worship at Uesugi Shrine.