A Two-Storey Bell Gate of 1840
The Myosenji Temple Bell Tower Gate (明専寺鐘楼門, Myōsenji shōrōmon) stands at the entrance to Myosenji in Waki, Onishi-cho, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture; built in 1840, it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on August 6, 2025. It is a two-storey gate with the temple bell hung in its upper level.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a two-storey wooden structure with a tiled roof and a building area of 8.3 square metres; its registration number is 38-0199. It belongs to Myosenji.
Why It Was Registered
The Myosenji Temple Bell Tower Gate was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes a two-storey gate one bay wide with a single passage under an Irimoya-zukuri hip-and-gable roof, with carving typical of the end of the Edo period, adorning the entrance to the precinct.
The Ehime Prefectural Board of Education notes that two-storey gates of one bay and one passage are rare nationwide. The gate makes heavy use of hemlock and carries the flamboyant carved scrollwork characteristic of the late Edo period. Its construction records survive, giving the date and the carpenters' names.
Sources differ on the roofing: the Agency for Cultural Affairs lists hongawara tile, while Ehime Prefecture lists pantiles.
What to Look For
According to the Agency, the lower storey supports its eave purlins on extended beam ends, while the upper storey has one-step projecting bracket sets and a double layer of closely spaced rafters. The upper walls have latticed windows, the central bays front and back are left open, and the bell hangs inside.
Stand beneath the gate and look up at the upper bracketing, the dense rafters and the lively late-Edo carving. Small as it is, the gate packs bracketing and ornament into both of its storeys.
Visiting the Myosenji Temple Bell Tower Gate
Imabari City reported that the gate was undergoing conservation work scheduled for completion around summer 2026. Access depends on the state of the work, so check before you go. Information on visiting the temple is gathered on the Myosenji page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Ehime
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Myosenji Temple Bell Tower Gate
- [ Dogo Onsen & Matsuyama Castle Relaxation Tour ]
Q&A
- When was the Myosenji Temple Bell Tower Gate built?
- In 1840; surviving construction records give the date and the carpenters' names.
- When was it registered as a cultural property?
- It became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 6, 2025.
- What makes the gate special?
- It is a rare one-bay, two-storey gate with the bell hung in the upper level and lively late-Edo carving.
- Can the gate be seen now?
- It was under conservation work due to finish around summer 2026; check the latest status before visiting.
- How large is the gate?
- It is a two-storey wooden structure with a building area of 8.3 square metres.
Basic Information
| Name | Myosenji Temple Bell Tower Gate (明専寺鐘楼門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1277 Waki-ko, Onishi-cho, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture (Myosenji) |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2025/8/6 (Reiwa 7) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Wooden, two storeys, tiled roof, building area 8.3 square metres |
| Owner | Myosenji |
| Public Access | Check status of conservation work |
References
- Myosenji Temple Bell Tower Gate (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00015515
- Registration of the Myosenji bell tower gate and stone wall (Ehime Prefecture)
- https://www.pref.ehime.jp/page/104870.html
- Registration of the Myosenji bell tower gate and stone wall (Imabari City)
- https://www.city.imabari.ehime.jp/bunka/info/016/
Last verified: 2026.10.05
