A Castle-Town Townhouse Reborn as Priests' Quarters
The Enmyoji Temple Priests' Quarters (圓明寺庫裏) is priests' quarters made from a moved castle-town townhouse of the late Edo period in Inuyama, Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on August 13, 2012 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a partial upper floor and a tiled roof, with a building area of 314 square metres, moved here in the mid-Meiji period; registration number 23-0353.
A Curved Roof and Lattices of a Townhouse
The priests' quarters of Enmyoji face east south-west of the main hall; it is a single-storey timber building with a partial upper floor and a gabled roof of plain tiles, with a lean-to across the front (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Inside, an earth-floored area lies by the entrance and tatami rooms line the north side.
It was a townhouse of the castle town moved here, and its gently curved roof and the lattices in each bay of both floors at the front still recall that past (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered the building for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the gently curved roof and the front lattices that recall its townhouse origin (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Enmyoji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on public access was found. The main hall, priests' quarters, monks' quarters, bell tower and gate are introduced together on the Enmyoji Temple page.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In the late Edo period; it was moved here in the mid-Meiji period.
- What was it originally?
- A townhouse of the castle town.
- What recalls its past?
- Its curved roof and front lattices.
- Where does it stand?
- South-west of the main hall.
- When was the Enmyoji Temple Priests' Quarters registered?
- On August 13, 2012 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Enmyoji Temple Priests' Quarters (圓明寺庫裏) |
|---|---|
| Location | 595 Inuyama, Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2012/08/13 (Heisei 24) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber with partial upper floor, tiled roof, 314 m² |
| Owner | Enmyoji Temple (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | No official access information |
References
- Enmyoji Temple Priests' Quarters (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00009299
Last verified: 2026.10.24