Meisekiji Temple

Meisekiji Temple

Meisekiji Temple (明石寺) in Uwacho Ageishi, Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture, has nine structures, from a late Edo bell tower to a water pavilion of 1937, that were registered as Registered Tangible Cultural Properties on October 2, 2007 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The precinct climbs a hillside: the Niomon gate, Jizo hall, guest hall and water pavilion stand on a middle terrace built up with steps and walls of 1916, and the main hall, Daishi hall and bell tower on a top terrace raised by walls and a fence of the early Showa period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Nine Structures

The main hall of around 1890 has a weighty front with a cusped gable under its great roof; the Daishi hall of 1880 has lion beam ends and S-curved rafters; the Jizo hall of 1909 is covered with carved dragons, rabbits and cranes; and the Niomon gate of around 1901 is an eight-legged gate carved with clouds and crowned with ridge-end fish (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The late Edo bell tower has a gracefully curved roof, and the Taisho-period guest hall a cusped-gable entrance and a 48-mat room. Forty-three granite steps climb to the Niomon gate, and a fence pierced like cusped windows runs along the walls of the top terrace (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Each structure is described on its own page.

Visiting

No official information on visiting hours or fees was found.