A Modern Shin Hall in the Higashi Honganji Manner
The Honkoji Temple Main Hall (本光寺本堂) is the main hall of Honkoji in Kamiaono-cho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, rebuilt in 1913, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on October 2, 2007, under registration number 23-0249.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a single-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 502 square metres. According to the temple, it was rebuilt in 1913 after the main hall and kitchen burned down in 1894.
Why It Was Registered
The main hall was registered as a model of design. According to the Agency, it faces east at the back of the centre of the grounds: a hip-and-gable tiled hall with a three-bay porch at the front, a typical Shin Buddhist plan with broad and lower verandas on three sides and a rear-entry inner sanctuary. The sanctuary is adorned with carving and painted patterns in gold leaf on black lacquer, ornament characteristic of the modern era.
The temple describes it as strongly influenced by Higashi Honganji: four porch posts instead of the usual two, showy bracketing and carved beam ends, extensive use of round zelkova posts, a high coffered ceiling and fine carved transoms, making it a representative modern Shin temple building.
What to Look For
Look at the adornment around the inner sanctuary, where gold-leaf carving and patterns on black lacquer set off the heart of the Shin hall (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Outside, note the porch posts with the bracketing and carved beam ends above them. The hall was extensively restored with the gate in 2019 and 2020, and a dedication service was held in 2022 (Honkoji).
Visiting
According to Okazaki City, the exterior of the main hall can be viewed. The temple's history and contact details are on the Honkoji Temple (Okazaki) page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Aichi
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Honkoji Temple Main Hall
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Q&A
- When was the Honkoji main hall built?
- It was rebuilt in 1913 after a fire in 1894.
- When was it registered as a cultural property?
- On October 2, 2007, as registration number 23-0249.
- What is distinctive about the hall?
- A typical Shin plan with the inner sanctuary adorned in gold-leaf carving on black lacquer.
- How does it show Higashi Honganji's influence?
- Four porch posts, showy bracketing and carving, round zelkova posts and a high coffered ceiling.
- Can I visit the main hall?
- Its exterior can be viewed.
Basic Information
| Name | Honkoji Temple Main Hall (本光寺本堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1 Arai, Kamiaono-cho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture (Honkoji) |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2007/10/2 (Heisei 19), registration no. 23-0249 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, single storey, tiled roof, building area 502 square metres |
| Owner | Honkoji |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable |
References
- 本光寺本堂 (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00006499
- Honkoji main hall and gate (Okazaki City)
- https://www.city.okazaki.lg.jp/1300/1304/1332/p021518.html
- About Honkoji (Honkoji official site)
- https://honkoji980.com/about/
Last verified: 2026.10.05
