A Temple Hall Moved from Niigata to Hokkaido
The Shogyoji Temple Main Hall (正行寺本堂) is the main hall of a Shin Buddhist temple of 1799 in Baika, Akkeshi Town, Akkeshi District, Hokkaido, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on January 21, 1992 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey hall 18.3 by 21.0 metres under a hip-and-gable roof of sheet metal, with lean-to eaves on three sides and a one-bay porch; 1 ridge plaque and 15 volumes of construction records are designated with it; designation number 02265.
A Hall Brought from Itoigawa
Shogyoji is a Shin Buddhist temple in Akkeshi, in southeastern Hokkaido, founded in 1879 through missionary work that followed the settlement of eastern Hokkaido (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The main hall was built in 1799 at Itoigawa in Niigata Prefecture and moved to its present site in 1910 (Agency for Cultural Affairs). In the move it was altered for Hokkaido's harsh cold, for example by bringing the verandas inside.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency values it as a precious record of how building culture spread with the settlement of Hokkaido. It was designated an Important Cultural Property on January 21, 1992.
Carvings and Rich Colour
Original carvings and rich polychrome survive, making it lavish for a temple building in Hokkaido (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The hall is 18.3 by 21.0 metres under a hip-and-gable roof, with lean-to eaves on the east, north and west and a one-bay porch at the front.
What to Look For
Look for the original carvings and polychrome, and for the changes, such as the enclosed verandas, made for the cold (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
No official information on visiting the hall was found.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Hokkaido
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Shogyoji Temple Main Hall
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Q&A
- When was the Shogyoji main hall built?
- In 1799, at Itoigawa in Niigata Prefecture.
- When was it moved to Akkeshi?
- In 1910 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How was it changed in the move?
- The verandas were brought inside, among other changes for the cold.
- What should I look for in the main hall?
- The original carvings and rich polychrome.
- When was the Shogyoji Temple Main Hall designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On January 21, 1992 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Shogyoji Temple Main Hall (正行寺本堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | Baika, Akkeshi Town, Akkeshi District, Hokkaido |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1992/01/21 (Heisei 4) |
| Quantity | 1 building (with 1 ridge plaque and 15 volumes of construction records) |
| Dimensions | 18.3 by 21.0 m, single storey, hip-and-gable, eaves on 3 sides, 1-bay porch, sheet-metal roof |
| Owner | Shogyoji Temple |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Shogyoji Temple Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/40
Last verified: 2026.10.16
