What Is Koryuji Temple Treasure House?
Koryuji Temple Treasure House (高龍寺宝蔵, Kōryū-ji Hōzō) is the brick storehouse that holds the treasures of Koryuji, a Soto Zen temple in Funamicho, Hakodate, Hokkaido; built in 1916, it became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 2012. It stands on the right after the Main Gate, immediately west of the Bell Tower.
The storehouse is built of brick with a tiled roof and covers 63 square meters. The main block, 9.7 meters by 6.1 meters, rises two storeys under a gabled roof (Kirizuma-zukuri) of pantiles. Its walls are finished in lime plaster (Shikkui) with a skirt of clapboarding held by vertical battens. On the east gable end is a gabled entrance bay (Kuramae) whose brick walls are left exposed.
According to the temple, it was donated by Soma Teppei, a wealthy Hakodate merchant and lay leader of the temple. The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as two storeys, while Hakodate City lists it as single-storey.
Why the Treasure House Matters: Brick and Plaster Side by Side
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes Koryuji Temple Treasure House as an unusual type of storehouse that uses brick with both fire resistance and appearance in mind. The brick structure makes it fireproof, while the main block is wrapped in plaster and clapboard so that it looks like a traditional Japanese storehouse. Only the entrance bay shows its brick openly.
Hakodate City remarks on the odd contrast between the brick-faced entrance and the plastered, clapboarded body of the storehouse. Exposed Western material and Japanese-style cladding meet within a single small building, a solution that suits a city shaped by great fires.
The donor, Soma Teppei, is also remembered for contributing toward the construction of the Old Public Hall of Hakodate Ward. The temple says the Treasure House was fully restored in 2017, bringing back its original appearance.
What to Look for and What It Holds
Koryuji Temple Treasure House is best seen from the east gable end. The brick entrance bay sits in front with the white plastered body behind, and the change of material is obvious at a glance. Look down at the base of the main block to see the clapboards pinned by their battens.
According to Hakodate's tourism site, the Treasure House holds the Buddha's Nirvana by Kakizaki Hakyo among other temple treasures. The large double-scroll painting dates from 1811 and became a Hokkaido cultural property in 1968. For a temple that had lost so many halls to fire, a brick store for its treasures was essential.
Visiting Koryuji Temple Treasure House
The interior of Koryuji Temple Treasure House is not open to visitors. The exterior can be viewed freely from the grounds; walk west past the Bell Tower to reach the east gable end, which serves as its front.
The Nirvana painting kept here is shown to the public only from 1 to 15 April each year. The temple is also reported to hold a treasure exhibition in October, but the venue and dates vary, so check Koryuji's notices before you go. Directions and opening hours for the whole temple are on the Koryuji Temple page.
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Q&A
- Can visitors go inside Koryuji Temple Treasure House?
- No, the interior is closed. The exterior can be viewed freely from the grounds.
- What is kept in Koryuji Temple Treasure House?
- According to Hakodate's tourism site, temple treasures including the Buddha's Nirvana by Kakizaki Hakyo, which is shown each year from 1 to 15 April.
- When and by whom was Koryuji Temple Treasure House built?
- It was built in 1916 and, according to the temple, donated by the Hakodate merchant Soma Teppei, a lay leader of the temple.
- Why is Koryuji Temple Treasure House built of brick?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs says brick was chosen for fire resistance and appearance. The walls are plastered and clapboarded so that it resembles a traditional storehouse.
- How large is Koryuji Temple Treasure House?
- The main block measures 9.7 meters by 6.1 meters, and the building area is 63 square meters.
Basic Information
| Name | Koryuji Temple Treasure House (高龍寺宝蔵) |
|---|---|
| Location | 21-3 Funamicho, Hakodate City, Hokkaido |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2012 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Building area 63 square meters; main block 9.7 meters by 6.1 meters |
| Owner | Koryuji (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the grounds; interior closed |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: Koryuji Treasure House (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009108
- Cultural Heritage Online: Koryuji Treasure House (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/200941
- Designated Townscape Buildings (Hakodate City, Japanese)
- https://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/docs/2014021000244/
- A Walk Around the Funamicho Precinct (Kokkasan Koryuji official site, Japanese)
- https://www.kokkasan.org/halls
- Temple Treasures (Kokkasan Koryuji official site, Japanese)
- https://www.kokkasan.org/treasure
- Guide to Koryuji, a Showpiece of Traditional Japanese Architecture (Hakobura, Hakodate official tourism site, Japanese)
- https://www.hakobura.jp/features/107
Last verified: 2026.10.02
