A Village-Built Wall Below the Bell Gate
The Myosenji Temple Stone Wall (明専寺石垣, Myōsenji ishigaki) runs along the city road on the east side of Myosenji in Waki, Onishi-cho, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture; its northern half was built in 1838, and it was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on August 6, 2025. It was built with donations from the surrounding villages.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as stone masonry 83 m long in total and up to about 2.5 m high, dating from 1838 and extended in 1857; its registration number is 38-0200. It belongs to Myosenji.
Why It Was Registered
The Myosenji Temple Stone Wall was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes a long wall of large and small stones finely laid, forming part of the area's historic townscape.
According to the Ehime Prefectural Board of Education, the wall north of the central steps was built in 1838 of granite from Yuzue Island off Onishi, and the southern wall was built in 1857 from various stones gathered around the temple. The prefecture calls the 1857 work a rebuilding, while the national record calls it an extension. Construction records survive, giving the dates and the names of the masons.
What to Look For
Notice how the stone changes on either side of the central steps. The northern section uses uniform granite brought from Yuzue Island, while the southern section mixes stones collected around the temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The two halves were also built in different years.
The 83 m wall runs beside the road, and at the top of the steps stands the bell tower gate. Wall and gate together form the temple's entrance.
Visiting the Myosenji Temple Stone Wall
The Myosenji Temple Stone Wall lines the city road and can be seen from outside. The address is 1277 Waki-ko, Onishi-cho, Imabari City. Information on visiting the temple is gathered on the Myosenji page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Ehime
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Myosenji Temple Stone Wall
- [ Dogo Onsen & Matsuyama Castle Relaxation Tour ]
Q&A
- When was the Myosenji Temple Stone Wall built?
- The northern section in 1838 and the southern section in 1857.
- When was it registered as a cultural property?
- It became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 6, 2025.
- How large is the wall?
- It is 83 m long in total and up to about 2.5 m high.
- Why do the two halves look different?
- The north was built in 1838 of Yuzue Island granite, the south in 1857 of assorted local stones.
- Who built the wall?
- It was paid for by donations from surrounding villages, and records preserve the masons' names.
Basic Information
| Name | Myosenji Temple Stone Wall (明専寺石垣) |
|---|---|
| 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 structure |
| Dimensions | Stone masonry, 83 m in total length |
| Owner | Myosenji |
| Public Access | Viewable from the city road |
References
- Myosenji Temple Stone Wall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00015516
- 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
