A Graceful Two-Storey Gate
The Zentsuji Nakamon Gate (善通寺中門) is a two-storey timber gate of the late Edo period at the centre of the west side of the eastern precinct (Garan) of Zentsuji, facing the Shakado Hall, at Zentsuji-cho, Zentsuji City, Kagawa Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on November 2, 2009 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a two-storey timber gate with a tiled roof, a building area of 27 square metres and a skirt-like lower wall, registration number 37-0333.
The Eastern Precinct of Zentsuji
According to Zentsuji, its precinct of about 45,000 square metres is divided into the eastern Garan, lined with the Main Hall and Five-Storied Pagoda, and the western Tanjoin centred on the Founder's Hall. The eastern precinct is the temple's original ground, said to have been founded by Kukai in 807 after his return from China.
The temple records that the original halls burned in 1558 and were rebuilt with the support of the Ikoma and Kyogoku lords of Sanuki and others. Six structures of the eastern precinct, the Shakado Hall, bell tower, Minami-daimon and Nakamon gates, and Tenjin and Ryuo shrines, were registered on November 2, 2009 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Value as a Registered Cultural Property
The Zentsuji Nakamon Gate was registered as a structure contributing to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as a gate of unusual appearance.
What to Look For
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes a one-bay, one-door two-storey gate with a hip-and-gable roof of hongawara tiles; the lower storey has skirt-like boarded walls on each side, and the tie beams are carved with clouds, dragons and cranes.
The upper storey of the Zentsuji Nakamon Gate, three by two bays, is open on all sides, with fan-shaped rafters under gracefully curved eaves (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
According to Zentsuji, the precinct is open all year; the Main Hall is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the stamp office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The visitors' car park, west of the precinct, holds up to 350 vehicles.
The Zentsuji Nakamon Gate is at 3-622 Zentsuji-cho, Zentsuji City. Zentsuji is Temple 75 of the Shikoku pilgrimage (Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association), and its precinct is part of the Sanuki Pilgrimage Route National Historic Site (Zentsuji). The six registered structures of the eastern precinct are gathered on the group page Zentsuji Garan (Eastern Precinct), and the 19 of the western precinct on Zentsuji Tanjoin Temple.
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Q&A
- When was it built?
- In the late Edo period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Where does it stand?
- At the centre of the west side of the eastern precinct, facing the Shakado Hall (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Are there carvings?
- Clouds, dragons and cranes are carved on the lower tie beams (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can visitors see it?
- Yes, the precinct is open all year (Zentsuji).
- When was the Zentsuji Nakamon Gate registered?
- On November 2, 2009.
Basic Information
| Name | Zentsuji Nakamon Gate (善通寺中門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3-622 Zentsuji-cho, Zentsuji City, Kagawa Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2009/11/02 (Heisei 21) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, 2 storeys, tiled roof, building area 27 square metres, with skirt wall |
| Owner | Zentsuji (per the Zentsuji City list) |
| Public Access | Precinct open all year; Main Hall open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
References
- Zentsuji Nakamon Gate (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007933
- History (Zentsuji, in Japanese)
- https://zentsuji.com/yuisho/
- Precinct (Zentsuji, in Japanese)
- https://zentsuji.com/keidai/
- Opening Hours and Fees (Zentsuji, in Japanese)
- https://zentsuji.com/%e6%8b%9d%e8%a6%b3%e6%99%82%e9%96%93%e3%83%bb%e6%96%99%e9%87%91/
- Zentsuji Temple (Kagawa Prefecture Tourism Association)
- https://www.my-kagawa.jp/point/332/
Last verified: 2026.10.12
