Daihoonji Temple Main Hall (Senbon Shakado)

The Oldest Building in Central Kyoto

The Daihoonji Temple Main Hall (Senbon Shakado) (大報恩寺本堂（千本釈迦堂）) is the early Kamakura main hall of Daihoonji in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, which in 1952 was designated a National Treasure.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a single-storey hip-and-gable hall five bays by six with a one-bay porch and cypress-bark roof.

According to the Agency, the temple is said to have been founded by Emperor Yomei and was revived by Gikku; an ink inscription on the ridge beam dates the main hall to 1227.

Repairs and Restoration

According to the Agency, the hall was repeatedly repaired, beginning with re-roofing in 1290 and 1291 and continuing through the fifteenth century, 1520, 1589, 1669 and 1745; the 1669 repairs in particular reused timbers from the branch temple Kyoodo to rebuild the roof frame, among other major changes.

The bracketing is single-stepped and the whole is in pure Japanese style. The 1954 restoration returned every part, down to the roof frame, to its original structure, and removing later facing revealed that the shrine cabinet inside, long thought to be Edo, is of the same date as the hall.

What to Look For

The Agency calls it the oldest building in central Kyoto, its survival through repeated wars all but unbelievable.

Daihoonji describes itself as home to the oldest National Treasure building and Buddhist images in the capital, and as keeper of many treasures of the vanished Kitano Kyoodo.

Visiting the Daihoonji Temple Main Hall (Senbon Shakado)

Daihoonji opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m., with entry to the Reihokan museum until 4:00 p.m. Entry to the grounds is free, with fees for the main hall and museum.

Take a city bus to the Kamishichiken stop. Enquiries: Daihoonji, 075-461-5973.