A Seven-Bay Shin Buddhist Hall
The Nyoiji Temple Main Hall (如意寺本堂) is the main hall of a Shin Buddhist temple of about 1823 in Chikaraishicho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on March 29, 2013 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber hall with a tiled roof and a building area of 474 square metres; registration number 23-0360.
A Seven-Bay Shin Hall
The Nyoiji Temple Main Hall is a Shin Buddhist hall 7 bays wide at the front, with a hip-and-gable pantiled roof and a porch 3 bays wide (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The gables are decorated with double tie beams and vase-shaped struts, and the outer bracket sets are simple, with no intermediate supports.
The wide and lower verandas that run from the front round the sides stop 3 bays back, with a boarded floor between them and the side room (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The outer worship hall and the enclosed area have coffered ceilings, and the inner sanctuary a raised coffered ceiling.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered the hall, the centrepiece of the precinct, for its contribution to the historic landscape. The shoin in the precinct is said to have been built as a temporary hall while the present main hall was under construction (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
What to Look For
Look for the 3-bay porch and the gable decoration of double tie beams and vase-shaped struts (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Inside, compare the flat coffered ceiling of the outer hall with the raised coffered ceiling over the sanctuary.
Visiting
The main hall faces the gate on the east side of the precinct (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on access to the interior was found.
Q&A
- When was the Nyoiji Temple Main Hall built?
- In about 1823 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How big is the main hall?
- It is 7 bays wide at the front, with a building area of 474 square metres.
- What should I look for?
- The 3-bay porch, the gable decoration and the raised coffered ceiling of the sanctuary.
- What school of Buddhism is Nyoiji?
- The main hall takes the form of a Shin Buddhist hall.
- When was the Nyoiji Temple Main Hall registered?
- On March 29, 2013 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Nyoiji Temple Main Hall (如意寺本堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 175 Chikaraishicho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2013/03/29 (Heisei 25) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, tiled roof, 474 m² |
| Owner | Nyoiji (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | No official information on interior access |
References
- Nyoiji Temple Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00009462
Last verified: 2026.10.19
