The Old Lecture Hall of Shojoji
The Shojoji Temple Yakushi Hall (勝常寺薬師堂) is the former lecture hall of the temple, known as the Aizu Central Yakushi Hall of the early Muromachi period in Shojo, Yukawa Village, Kawanuma District, Fukushima Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on April 15, 1903 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a five-by-five-bay hipped hall with a copper roof shaped like thatch; designation number 00268.
The 1903 date in the Agency record is that of its designation under the former law.
The Lecture Hall of Tokuitsu's Temple
The Yakushi Hall of Shojoji in Yukawa, Fukushima, is a Buddhist hall of the early Muromachi period, five bays by five, single-storey, hipped, with a copper roof shaped like thatch (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Fukushima Prefecture describes Shojoji as one of the leading old temples of Tohoku, said to have been founded in 807 by Tokuitsu, a scholar monk of the Hosso school; the hall was its lecture hall and is known as the Aizu Central Yakushi Hall.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency record has no commentary; the date, the early Muromachi period, and its form, a five-by-five-bay hipped hall, set out what was designated.
A Temple of Early Heian Images
Shojoji keeps many Buddhist images of the early Heian period, and Fukushima Prefecture notes that so many kept in one place is rare in Japan.
What to Look For
At the Yakushi Hall of Shojoji, look for the large five-bay square hipped hall and its copper roof shaped like thatch (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
The Yakushi Hall is owned by Shojoji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to Fukushima Prefecture, it may be visited from April 1 to November 15, entry is free and there is parking. It is about 5 minutes by car from Oikawa Station on the JR Ban'etsu West Line, and the Yukawa Village office handles enquiries.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In the early Muromachi period.
- What is it also called?
- The Aizu Central Yakushi Hall.
- Who founded the temple?
- Tokuitsu, in 807, it is said.
- When can I visit?
- From April 1 to November 15.
- When was the Shojoji Temple Yakushi Hall designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On April 15, 1903 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Shojoji Temple Yakushi Hall (勝常寺薬師堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1737 Shojo, Yukawa Village, Kawanuma District, Fukushima Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1903/04/15 (Meiji 36) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 5 bays by 5 bays, single storey, hipped, copper roof shaped like thatch |
| Owner | Shojoji Temple |
| Public Access | About 5 minutes by car from Oikawa Station (JR Ban'etsu West Line) |
References
- Shojoji Temple Yakushi Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/221
- Shojoji Yakushi Hall (Fukushima Prefecture, Aizuwakamatsu Construction Office, in Japanese)
- https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/sec/41340a/www-wakamatsu-kensetsu85.html
Last verified: 2026.10.30