Daishoji High Wall

About the Daishoji High Wall

The Daishoji High Wall (大聖寺高塀) is the wall of around 1942 at Daishoji, an imperial Zen convent in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on January 26, 2011.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs records it as timber, with a tiled coping, 36 metres long; registration number 26-0357, owned by the religious corporation Daishoji. Nine of the convent's buildings and walls were registered on the same day (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Why It Was Registered

The Daishoji High Wall was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes its simple yet solemn atmosphere.

What to Look For

The Daishoji High Wall separates the path from the front gate to the entrance hall from the forecourt, running 36 metres south from the south-east corner of the entrance hall to the south earthen wall, with two side doors along the way (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Sills sit on foundation stones, square posts rise from them, and brackets carry the eaves beam under a tiled coping; the walls are plastered (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting the Daishoji High Wall

According to the Japan Tourism Agency commentary, Daishoji remains an active convent and is closed to the public except for occasional special exhibitions. The front gate and earthen walls can be seen from Karasuma-dori and the lane to the south. The address is 109-1 Goshohachiman-cho, Karasuma-dori Kamidachiuri-sagaru, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto.