A Dignified Gate Moved to Shorenji
The Shorenji Temple Gate (證蓮寺山門) is a four-legged gate of the mid-Edo period (1661 to 1751) in Matsushiromachi Matsushiro, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on November 17, 2015 (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It was moved here around 1886.
The Agency records a timber gate with a tiled roof, 2.1 metres wide; registration number 20-0490.
The Gate on the West Side
The Shorenji Temple Gate is a four-legged gate at the centre of the west side of the temple grounds, 2.1 metres wide (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It has a gabled tiled roof with ornamental fish at both ends of the ridge.
Its frame is painted black and hung with panelled doors (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Carving and other decoration are kept to a minimum, giving it a restrained, orderly look.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape, as a dignified gate whose size and structure resemble the front gates of the mausoleums of the successive lords of Matsushiro in the city.
What to Look For
Look for the ornamental fish on the ridge, the black-painted frame and the panelled doors (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
No official information from the temple on access to the grounds was found. The location is described on the Shorenji Temple page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Nagano
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Shorenji Temple Gate
- [ Matsumoto Castle & Kamikochi Hiking Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Shorenji Temple Gate built?
- In the mid-Edo period, between 1661 and 1751; it was moved here around 1886.
- What type of gate is the Shorenji Temple Gate?
- A four-legged gate with a gabled tiled roof.
- What is special about the Shorenji gate?
- Its restrained look and its likeness to the gates of the lords' mausoleums.
- Where is the gate in the Shorenji grounds?
- At the centre of the west side.
- When was the Shorenji Temple Gate registered?
- On November 17, 2015 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Shorenji Temple Gate (證蓮寺山門) |
|---|---|
| Location | Lot 1299, Matsushiromachi Matsushiro, Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2015/11/17 (Heisei 27) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, tiled roof, 2.1 m wide |
| Owner | Shorenji Temple (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Access arrangements unconfirmed |
References
- Shorenji Temple Gate (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010778
Last verified: 2026.10.15
