Eijuji Temple Main Hall
The Eijuji Temple Main Hall (永住寺本堂) is a building of 1697 at Eijuji, a Soto Zen temple in Urano, Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on December 5, 2019, under registration number 23-0536. The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a single-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 298 square metres. According to Shinshiro City, its roof was changed from shingles to tiles in 1717.
Why It Was Registered
The Eijuji Temple Main Hall was registered as a model of design. According to the Agency, it is a hip-and-gable tiled hall facing south at the centre of the grounds, with six rooms in two rows and the inner sanctuary at the centre of the rear row. A tatami-floored broad veranda runs across the front; the two posts before the sanctuary and the raigo posts behind are round, the rest square.
The broad veranda was originally a veranda and an earth-floored passage leading to the shoin, a characteristic of Soto Zen main halls (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Shinshiro City sees it as the central hall of an early modern Soto monastery that faithfully kept the sect's traditions.
What to Look For
Look at the inner sanctuary. According to Shinshiro City, rainbow beams span the three front bays with the central one raised, carved transoms above and three-block brackets; at the back, raigo posts carry a coffered ceiling over a Zen-style altar platform for the principal image.
Marks left on the posts show that the front veranda was once partly an earth-floored passage linking the kitchen with the monks' and meditation halls (Shinshiro City).
Visiting
The layout of the whole monastery and contact details are on the Eijuji Temple page. No official information on visiting was found.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Aichi
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Eijuji Temple Main Hall
- [ Nagoya Castle & Atsuta Shrine History Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Eijuji main hall built?
- In 1697; its roof was changed from shingles to tiles in 1717.
- When was it registered?
- On December 5, 2019, as registration number 23-0536.
- What is its plan?
- Six rooms in two rows, with the inner sanctuary at the centre rear and a broad veranda across the front.
- What is characteristic of a Soto hall here?
- The front veranda was once partly a passage leading to the shoin, linking the monastery buildings.
- Can I see inside?
- No official information on visiting was found.
Basic Information
| Name | Eijuji Temple Main Hall (永住寺本堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3 Urano, Shinshiro City, Aichi Prefecture (Eijuji) |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2019/12/5, registration no. 23-0536 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, single storey, tiled roof, building area 298 square metres |
| Owner | Eijuji |
| Public Access | No visiting information |
References
- 永住寺本堂 (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00013120
- Eijuji main hall and six other buildings (Shinshiro City)
- https://www.city.shinshiro.lg.jp/kanko/minzokugeino/eijuji-hondo.html
Last verified: 2026.10.05
