The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between kohai pillars(pillars supporting a narrow portico which projects from the roof over the moya - the raised core of the shrine) and the hisashi (the peripheral area in front of the moya) in the architecture of the inner sanctuary of Shinto shrines with facades featuring three bays (sangensha) or more. The study concentrates on shrines in the former Satsuma feudal domain. First we classified shrines according to whether they have kohai pillars or kaidanshita hisashi pillars(pillars supporting a portico of the same width as the roof covering the moya). Next, we distinguished between shrines which have a hisashi in front of the moya and those that do not. We make it clear that, in their primary form, the inner sanctuaries with kohai pillars have hisashi in front of the moya, while those with kaidanshita hisashi pillars do not. Thus, the hisashi in front of the moya is related to the presence of kohai pillars.
