Myotokuji Temple Main Gate

A Bell-Tower Gate atop the Temple Steps

The Myotokuji Temple Main Gate (明徳寺山門) is a two-storey gate that also serves as a bell tower of around 1713 in Matsushiromachi Toyosaka, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on February 17, 2022 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a two-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 23 square metres, altered in 1963; registration number 20-0601.

A Bell-Tower Gate before the Main Hall

The Myotokuji Temple Main Gate stands in front of the main hall: a three-bay, single-passage two-storey gate that also serves as the bell tower (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Round posts on foundation stones are tied by tie beams and curved beams, and inserted brackets and tie beams with carved ends reach out to carry the upper veranda.

The upper storey has an opening in the centre bay and cusped windows on either side (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The hip-and-gable roof is now tiled but was once thatched.

Why It Was Registered

The Agency notes that it creates a grand view at the top of the stone steps of the approach, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.

What to Look For

Look for the cusped windows on the upper storey and the veranda carried on inserted brackets (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

It is owned by Myotokuji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The main hall and gate are introduced together on the Myotokuji Temple page. No official visiting information was found.