Hokaiji Temple Main Hall (Yakushido)

The Hall of the Healing Buddha at Hino

The Hokaiji Temple Main Hall (Yakushido) (法界寺本堂（薬師堂）) is a temple main hall of 1456 in Hino Nishidaidocho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on April 5, 1909 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a single-storey hall five bays wide and four deep, under a hipped roof of round-and-flat tiles; designation number 00528.

The 1909 date in the Agency record is that of its designation under the former law.

A Hall Brought from Nara

According to the temple, the Yakushido is its main hall, enshrining the principal image of the Healing Buddha. The first hall was lost to fire; the present one was moved here in 1904 from the main hall of another temple in the Tatsuta area of Nara Prefecture, and its ridge beam bears an inscription of 1456.

The Agency's record also dates it to 1456, and describes a single-storey hall five bays wide and four deep under a hipped roof of round-and-flat tiles.

Why It Is an Important Cultural Property

The Agency's record has no commentary; the structure and date set out what was designated. The ridge-beam inscription dates this mid-Muromachi hall to 1456 (Agency for Cultural Affairs; Hokaiji Temple).

What to Look For

According to the temple, the inner sanctuary holds the Healing Buddha triad and the Twelve Heavenly Generals; it is normally closed, but anyone may pray from the outer sanctuary. The hall is visited by those praying for safe childbirth and nursing, and many children's bibs hang here as offerings for children's healthy growth.

Visiting

According to the temple, the Yakushido is open for prayer from the outer sanctuary. Opening hours, fees and directions are on the Hokaiji Temple page.