A Carved Temple Hall Above Kinosaki Onsen
The Honjuji Temple Main Hall (本住寺本堂) is the main hall of a temple of 1931, extended in 1999 in Kinosakicho Yushima, Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on October 27, 2017 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a tiled roof, covering 159 square metres; registration number 28-674.
A Main Hall on the Hillside of Kinosaki
The Honjuji Temple Main Hall faces south in a precinct on the hillside edge of the Kinosaki Onsen town (Agency for Cultural Affairs). At the back, the central bay projects for the altar, the right bay for the founder's altar and the left bay for the memorial tablet hall.
Every ceiling inside is coffered, the inner sanctuary under a raised coffered ceiling, and even the pillars behind the altar carry carved lion and baku heads. The dragon carved on the frog-leg strut of the porch is the work of the Matsumoto school of Shikama carvers from Harima (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape, a richly carved main hall of the early Showa period on the hillside of Kinosaki Onsen.
What to Look For
Look for the carved dragon on the porch strut and the raised coffered ceiling of the inner sanctuary (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
No official information on visiting was found.
Q&A
- When was the main hall built?
- In 1931, with an extension in 1999 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Who carved the dragon?
- The Matsumoto school of Shikama carvers from Harima.
- What are the ceilings like?
- All coffered, with a raised coffered ceiling over the sanctuary.
- Where is Honjuji?
- On the hillside edge of the Kinosaki Onsen town.
- When was the Honjuji Temple Main Hall registered?
- On October 27, 2017 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Honjuji Temple Main Hall (本住寺本堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | Kinosakicho Yushima, Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2017/10/27 (Heisei 29) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, tiled roof, 159 m² |
| Owner | Honjuji Temple (Religious Corporation) |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Honjuji Temple Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00011992
Last verified: 2026.10.18