A Fireproof Store Dressed as a Temple
The Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse (照林坊経蔵, Shōrinbō Kyōzō) is a plastered Dozo-zukuri storehouse of 1752, in the mid Edo period, standing north-east of the main hall at Shorinbo in Miyoshi-machi, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 25 July 2011.
A kyōzō is a repository for Buddhist scriptures. The Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse faces south and is square in plan, 3.8 metres on each side, a single-storey storehouse with a tiled roof and a building area of 20 square metres. It was repaired in 1912 (Meiji 45).
Thick earthen walls finished in white plaster were the standard Japanese defence against fire, and paper scriptures needed exactly that. What makes this little building interesting is that its builders then wrapped the fireproof box in the ornamental vocabulary of a temple hall.
Why It Was Registered
The sutra storehouse was listed for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency for Cultural Affairs remarks that bracketing, carved frog-leg struts (kaerumata) and other carvings are placed throughout, and that they are well worth a look.
A store of 20 square metres has been given a Kōhai porch, bracketed eaves and a coffered ceiling inside. Treating a storage building almost like a worship hall says a good deal about the care the temple took over its scriptures. Together with the bell tower across the forecourt, it also frames the space in front of the main hall.
What to Look At
A pyramid roof and a porch
The roof rises from all four sides to a single point (hōgyō-zukuri) and is laid with pantiles (Sangawara-buki). On the south front a porch one bay wide projects over the doorway.
Brackets on top of plaster
Plastered storehouse walls normally end in a hachimaki, a thick band of plaster at the top of the wall. At the Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse a horizontal plate is laid on that band, and on the plate sit three-bearing bracket sets (Mitsudo-gumi) projecting forward to carry the eaves. Between them are carved frog-leg struts. Timber bracketing rising out of plaster is an unusual junction: the fire-safe store and the temple carpentry meet in plain view.
Single-tier rafters
The eaves use a single tier of closely spaced Taruki rafters, which trim all four edges of the pyramid roof evenly.
A coffered ceiling for the scriptures
Inside is a single board-floored room with a coffered ceiling (Gō-tenjō), the most formal of ceiling types, in a room no one was ever meant to sit in.
Visiting
The exterior of the Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse can be seen from the grounds. The porch and the brackets above the plaster band are on the south front, so walk east past the main hall and look up from the south side. Morning light brings out the relief of the carvings.
The interior is a closed store for scriptures, and as of October 2026 we found no announcement of openings.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Hiroshima
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse
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Q&A
- When was the Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse built?
- It dates from the mid Edo period, 1752 (Horeki 2), and was repaired in 1912 (Meiji 45).
- Why is the Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse built with plastered earthen walls?
- A sutra store holds paper scriptures, so the fire-resistant dozo-zukuri technique of thick earthen walls finished with plaster was the natural choice. The temple then added a porch, bracketing and carving on the outside.
- What should I look for at the Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse?
- Look at the eaves: a plate laid on the plaster band at the top of the walls, three-bearing brackets above it, and carved frog-leg struts between them. The Agency for Cultural Affairs says the bracketing and carvings are well worth seeing.
- How big is the Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse?
- It is square, 3.8 metres on each side, with a building area of 20 square metres.
- Can I see inside the Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse?
- As of October 2026 no openings had been announced. The exterior can be seen from the temple grounds.
Basic Information
| Name | Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse (照林坊経蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1280 Miyoshi-machi, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2011/7/25 (Heisei 23) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Plastered storehouse construction, single storey, tiled roof, building area 20 square metres (3.8 metres square) |
| Owner | Shorinbo (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the temple grounds; no interior openings announced |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008780
- Cultural Heritage Online: Shorinbo Sutra Storehouse (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/185781
Last verified: 2026.10.07
