A Bell-Tower Gate in Tomo
The Nanzenbo Temple Gate (南禅坊山門), a mid-Edo four-legged gate topped by a bell chamber on the east of the precinct of Nanzenbo, a Jodo Shinshu temple at Ushiroji, Tomocho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, was renovated in 1810 and registered with the main hall as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on December 19, 2014 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as a two-storey timber structure with a tiled roof and a building area of 5.1 square metres; registration number 34-0142, owned by Nanzenbo.
A Gate Carrying a Bell
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, an upper storey one bay square with a hip-and-gable roof of traditional tiles was added above a single-bay four-legged gate, and a bell hangs in it, making a gate and belfry in one.
The Agency describes the gate as adding colour to the scenery of Tomo-no-ura, a port of call for the Korean embassies of the Edo period.
Why It Was Registered
The Nanzenbo Temple Gate was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that its red-ochre timbers, cusped and round windows and sharply upturned eaves lend it an exotic air that colours the scenery of Tomo-no-ura.
What to Look For
The timbers of the Nanzenbo Temple Gate are painted all over in red ochre (bengara). The upper storey has cusped katomado windows front and back and round windows on each side (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The eaves sweep up sharply at the corners, giving this small gate an exotic look (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Within the precinct stands the late-Edo main hall, facing east.
Visiting
The Nanzenbo Temple Gate is the east entrance to the Nanzenbo precinct at 1339 Kusatani-ko, Ushiroji, Tomocho, Fukuyama City. See the group page Nanzenbo (Tomo) for both registered structures.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Hiroshima
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Nanzenbo Temple Gate
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Q&A
- When was the Nanzenbo Temple Gate built?
- In the mid-Edo period; it was renovated in 1810 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What kind of gate is the Nanzenbo Temple Gate?
- A four-legged gate with an added upper storey holding a bell (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Why does the Nanzenbo Temple Gate look exotic?
- Red-ochre timbers, cusped and round windows and sharply upturned eaves (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How is the gate linked to the Korean embassies?
- The Agency says it colours the scenery of Tomo-no-ura, their port of call.
- When was the Nanzenbo Temple Gate registered?
- On December 19, 2014.
Basic Information
| Name | Nanzenbo Temple Gate (南禅坊山門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1339 Kusatani-ko, Ushiroji, Tomocho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2014/12/19 (Heisei 26) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, 2 storeys, tiled roof, building area 5.1 square metres |
| Owner | Nanzenbo (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable as the precinct entrance |
References
- Nanzenbo Temple Gate (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010350
- Nanzenbo Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010349
- List of cultural properties in Fukuyama (Fukuyama City, PDF)
- https://www.city.fukuyama.hiroshima.jp/uploaded/attachment/285716.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.10
