A Chinese-Style Buddha Hall in Matsushiro
The Emyoji Temple Main Hall (恵明寺本堂) is the main hall of a temple of 1833 in Matsushiromachi Nishijo, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on September 10, 2010 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber hall with a tiled roof and a building area of 119 square metres; registration number 20-0363.
At the Centre of the Temple Grounds
The Emyoji Temple Main Hall stands at the centre of the temple grounds at the eastern foot of Mount Zozan (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Five bays wide and six deep, it has a hip-and-gable tiled roof, with a pent roof around a single storey that gives it the look of a Chinese-style Buddha hall.
Panelled doors fill the three central bays of the front, with cusped windows at each end (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Inside, square pillars with chamfered edges stand round a central space 4 metres square, with an altar platform behind.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape, as a regional example of a Buddha hall in the Ōbaku Zen manner.
What to Look For
Notice the pent roof that gives the hall its Chinese-temple profile, and the cusped windows at both ends of the front (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
No official information from the temple on access to the grounds was found. The location is described on the Emyoji Temple page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Nagano
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Emyoji Temple Main Hall
- [ Matsumoto Castle & Kamikochi Hiking Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Emyoji Temple Main Hall built?
- In 1833 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What is special about the Emyoji Main Hall?
- Its pent-roofed, Chinese-style profile, an example of an Obaku Buddha hall.
- Where is Emyoji Temple?
- In Matsushiro, Nagano City, at the eastern foot of Mount Zozan.
- What else is registered at Emyoji Temple?
- The bell tower and the gate are also registered.
- When was the Emyoji Temple Main Hall registered?
- On September 10, 2010 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Emyoji Temple Main Hall (恵明寺本堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | Matsushiromachi Nishijo, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2010/09/10 (Heisei 22) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, tiled roof, 119 m² |
| Owner | Emyoji Temple (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Access arrangements unconfirmed |
References
- Emyoji Temple Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008280
Last verified: 2026.10.15
