Burakuji Temple Yakushi Hall: The Oldest Building in Shikoku
Burakuji Temple Yakushi Hall (豊楽寺薬師堂, Burakuji Yakushido) is a late Heian-period Buddhist hall built around 1151 in Terauchi, Otoyo Town, Nagaoka District, Kochi Prefecture, and was designated a National Treasure in 1952.
The characters 豊楽寺 are read Burakuji, not Horakuji. The temple's formal name is Otasan Daiganin Burakuji, and it is said to have been founded in 724 by the monk Gyoki. It is also known as Shiori Yakushi, and the temple counts itself among Japan's three great Yakushi sanctuaries, together with Horai-ji in Aichi and Jofuku-ji in Fukushima.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs values Burakuji Temple Yakushi Hall as the oldest building in the Shikoku region. The hall carries no date of its own, but the temple explains that an ink inscription inside the seated Shaka Nyorai enshrined here records the making of both the statue and the Yakushi hall, together with the date 4 August 1151.
The hall was first protected on 29 August 1904, the date that stands as its designation as an Important Cultural Property, and became a National Treasure on 22 November 1952.
Why It Is a National Treasure
The hall measures five bays by five, close to square in plan. It is a single storey under a hip-and-gable roof covered in thin wooden shingles (kokerabuki). The agency notes that the plan is somewhat unusual but appears to have been intended from the start, and that the fairly thick, widely spaced rafters, the large eaves battens, and the altar and railings inside all show the character of their age.
A hall in the capital-style manner of the late Heian period, with firm evidence for its date, surviving deep in the mountains of Shikoku far from Kyoto and Nara: that is why Burakuji Temple Yakushi Hall marks the starting point of the island's architectural history.
What to Look For
A veranda with a railing runs all the way around, and the walls are plank. The three central front bays have double-leaf plank doors, and the bays on either side have slatted windows (renjimado). The temple singles out the gentle pitch of the roof and the graceful curve of the eaves. Look at the hall from a front corner to see the long, low roofline and the generous spacing of the rafters.
Inside, the slope of the altar platform in the inner sanctuary and the cusped openings cut into its panels are typical of the late Heian period. The innermost sanctuary has a ceiling of thin boards laid over battens (saobuchi-tenjo), said to be one of the oldest ceilings of its kind.
The hall enshrines the seated Shaka Nyorai whose inscription dates the building, along with seated figures of Yakushi and Amida. The statues are designated separately. If you view the interior, keep in mind the link between the hall and the image that dates it.
Visiting Burakuji
Burakuji stands partway up a mountainside in Terauchi, Otoyo. The nearest station is Otaguchi on the JR Dosan Line, and the road up to the temple climbs through the hills, so a car or taxi is the practical choice.
According to Otoyo Town, the exterior can be viewed free of charge without a reservation. Viewing the interior of the Yakushi hall requires a reservation and costs 500 yen. Reservations are made with the temple by telephone at 0887-73-0029, and the temple's website also states that advance booking is required.
No official policy on photography could be found. If you arrange an interior visit, ask the temple when you book or on arrival.
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Q&A
- How is 豊楽寺 pronounced?
- Burakuji. It is often misread as Horakuji.
- When was Burakuji Temple Yakushi Hall built?
- An inscription inside the seated Shaka Nyorai records the building of the Yakushi hall with the date 4 August 1151, placing it in the late Heian period. It is the oldest building in Shikoku.
- Can I see inside Burakuji Temple Yakushi Hall?
- Yes, by reservation. Interior viewing costs 500 yen; call the temple at 0887-73-0029. The exterior is free to view without booking.
- How do I get to Burakuji Temple Yakushi Hall?
- The nearest station is Otaguchi on the JR Dosan Line. The temple is up a mountain road, so use a car or taxi from the station.
- When was Burakuji Temple Yakushi Hall designated a National Treasure?
- On 22 November 1952. Its date of designation as an Important Cultural Property is 29 August 1904.
Basic Information
| Name | Burakuji Temple Yakushi Hall |
|---|---|
| Location | Terauchi, Otoyo Town, Nagaoka District, Kochi Prefecture |
| Designation | National Treasure (Building) |
| Year Designated | Designated National Treasure 1952/11/22 (Showa 27); Important Cultural Property 1904/08/29 (Meiji 37) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 5 bays by 5 bays, single storey, hip-and-gable roof, wooden shingles |
| Owner | Burakuji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior free without booking. Interior by reservation, 500 yen |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Burakuji Yakushi Hall
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/3448
- Cultural Heritage Online: Burakuji Yakushi Hall
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/157985
- Burakuji Temple official website
- https://www.burakuji.jp/
- Otoyo Town: Burakuji Yakushi Hall
- https://www.town.otoyo.kochi.jp/life/detail.php?hdnKey=440
Last verified: 2026.09.27