Rōmons in Shinto Shrines: The Past and the Present of Majestic Two-Storied Gates in Japan

Rōmon is a traditional two-storied gate found in a place of worship in Japan. "Rō"means "multi-storied", and "mon" means "gate" in Japanese. A typical rōmon in Japan is constructed with wood; massive and decorative; and has a large hip-and-gable roof and a wraparound small balcony with railings. Rōmons that are noted for their artistic beauty and historical significance tend to belong to Shinto shrines. Yet no one can answer such simple question as how many rōmons exist in Shinto shrines in...