An Early 18th-Century Soto Zen Hall near Matsushiro
The Myotokuji Temple Main Hall (明徳寺本堂) is a Soto Zen main hall 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 single-storey timber building with a thatched roof now temporarily covered in sheet iron and a building area of 276 square metres, altered in 1753, the mid-Meiji period, 1963 and 1975; registration number 20-0600.
A Thatched Hall with a Tall Ridge
The Myotokuji Main Hall stands in the former Sekiya village south-east of Matsushiro: nine bays by seven under a hipped roof with a tall box ridge, facing west (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its thatch is now temporarily covered in sheet iron.
Inside, a plan of six rooms is joined by formal rooms along the south side, and the earth-floored area at the front has been turned into a room (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Round posts stand around the inner sanctuary at the centre back, where the altar platform is set.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes that it is a main hall going back to the mid-Edo period with the typical Soto Zen plan, and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to Look For
Look for the tall box ridge and the round posts around the inner sanctuary (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Myotokuji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official visiting information was found.
Q&A
- When was the Myotokuji Main Hall built?
- Around 1713 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Which school does it belong to?
- It has the typical plan of a Soto Zen main hall.
- What is the roof like?
- Hipped and thatched, now temporarily covered in sheet iron.
- Where is it?
- In Matsushiromachi Toyosaka, south-east of Matsushiro, Nagano City.
- When was the Myotokuji Temple Main Hall registered?
- On February 17, 2022 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Myotokuji Temple Main Hall (明徳寺本堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 2833 Matsushiromachi Toyosaka, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2022/02/17 (Reiwa 4) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, thatch under temporary sheet iron, 276 m² |
| Owner | Myotokuji Temple |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Myotokuji Temple Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00014155
Last verified: 2026.10.22
