Jinkoin Temple Main Hall

A Late Edo Main Hall of the Nishigamo Kobo Temple

The Jinkoin Temple Main Hall (神光院本堂) is a mid-sized main hall of the late Edo period of 1829 in Nishigamo Jinkoincho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on February 26, 2021 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a copper roof and a building area of 89 square metres; registration number 26-0627.

Half-Shutters across the Whole Front

According to Kyoto City, Jinkoin is said to have been founded in 1217 after an oracle received by a priest of Kamigamo Shrine, which gave the temple its name; it is counted with To-ji and Ninna-ji as one of the three Kobo temples of Kyoto and is known locally as the Kobo-san of Nishigamo.

The main hall, of 1829, stands in the middle of the precinct facing south (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Three bays by four under a hip-and-gable copper roof, with a porch at the front, it has square posts and simple three-bearing brackets.

Inside, the front bay is the outer hall and the rear three bays the sanctuary, with an altar the full width of the building; there is no screen between the two, and hinged half-shutters fill the whole front (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The Agency calls it a good example of a mid-sized main hall of the late Edo period.

Why It Was Registered

The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.

What to Look For

Look for the half-shutters across the whole front and the full-width altar (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

It is owned by Jinkoin Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on visiting hours or fees was found. The main hall, guest hall, Chukodo, Rengetsuan and gate are introduced together on the Jinkoin Temple page.