A two-storey wing for living and receiving
Not every building at Shokoji was made to impress. The zashiki, or sitting-room wing, is the part of the temple given to ordinary life and quieter hospitality. It stands between the tea building and the guest hall, on the south side of a middle courtyard.
It is a two-storey timber structure of about 140 square metres under a hipped roof of pantiles. On the ground floor two rows of three rooms run front to back, with corridors along the west, south and east sides and an earthen-floored veranda to the north. The upper floor repeats the arrangement, with verandas added north and south.
Everyday rooms in a registered building
The principal rooms are fitted with an alcove and shelving, the standard equipment of a Japanese formal room, and the building served both to receive guests and as living quarters. It was registered as a national tangible cultural property in 2011 as a structure contributing to the historic landscape of the town.
Where the guest hall shows off, the zashiki is measured and domestic. Its interest lies in how a temple household actually lived and entertained in the Taisho years, and in the way the rooms are ranked from formal to everyday across the two floors.
Reading the compound as a whole
The zashiki is best understood as one element in a connected group of temple buildings, alongside the guest hall, the kitchen quarters and the tea rooms, each with its own role. Together they show how a substantial Shin Buddhist temple organised its social and domestic space.
As a residential building it is not open to visitors. The parts of Shokoji that welcome the public are on the west side: the Chiyo-ni Hall, the Sofu-an tea hut, the poet's grave and the relic hall, which can be seen for a small admission charge.
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Q&A
- What was the zashiki used for?
- It served as living quarters and for quieter reception, with formal rooms fitted with an alcove and shelving, over two floors.
- How is it laid out?
- The ground floor has two rows of three rooms with surrounding corridors; the upper floor repeats the plan with verandas added to north and south.
- When was it registered?
- It was built in 1918 and registered as a national tangible cultural property in 2011.
- Can I go inside?
- No; it is a residential building and not open to the public. The Chiyo-ni memorial area on the west side is open to visitors.
- How does it differ from the guest hall?
- The guest hall is deliberately ornate for receiving visitors, while the zashiki is measured and domestic, reflecting everyday temple life.
Basic Information
| Name | Shokoji Zashiki (Sitting-Room Wing) |
|---|---|
| Location | Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan |
| Classification | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (national register) |
| Registration date | January 26, 2011 |
| Registration no. | 17-0213 |
| Registration criterion | Contributing to the nation's historic landscape |
| Era | 1918 (Taisho 7) |
| Structure | Two-storey timber structure, tiled roof, floor area 140 m² |
| Count | 1 building |
| Owner | Religious corporation Shokoji |
| Public access | Active temple; interior not routinely open. The Chiyo-ni Hall, Sofu-an tea hut and relic hall (small fee) are open to visitors. |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs National Cultural Properties Database
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008442
- Kaga no Chiyojo | Hakusan City
- https://www.city.hakusan.lg.jp/bunka/bunkashinko/1002773/1002775/index.html
- Shokoji | Urara Hakusanbito Tourism
- https://www.urara-hakusanbito.com/spot/detail_1100.html
- Shokoji Official Site
- https://shokoji.jp/
Last verified: 2026.07.11