What Is Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters?
Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters (本善寺庫裏, Honzen-ji Kuri) is the residence and kitchen building (Kuri) of Honzenji in Iigai, Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture; built in the mid-Edo period (1661 to 1750), it became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on January 15, 2010.
It is joined to the northwest corner of the guest hall, and the temple also calls it the Ōdaidokoro, the great kitchen. With a building area of 249 square meters, it is second in size only to the main hall among the 11 registered buildings.
A Great Roof with a Smoke Vent
Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters measures 18 by 13 meters under a large hip-and-gable roof (Irimoya-zukuri) of traditional pantiles. A small hip-and-gable smoke vent rises from the ridge, and a formal entrance with a raised step (Shikidai) opens toward the east end of the north side.
Inside, the western half is a wide earthen-floored work area and the eastern half is raised, with tatami living rooms and board-floored rooms. Cooking was done on the earthen floor and the smoke escaped through the vent on the ridge, so the kitchen's function is written on the outside of the building.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs registered Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters for its contribution to the historic landscape, under number 29-0158, calling it an important element of the complex of a leading regional temple.
Behind the Guest Hall
A temple where large congregations gathered for every service needed a kitchen able to feed and serve them. Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters connects directly to the guest hall, linking the formal rooms where guests were received to the back rooms where meals were prepared.
Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters also has its own formal entrance on the north side, separate from the great entrance at the front of the guest hall.
Seeing Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters
Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters is at the northwest of the buildings west of the main hall. From the north side of the grounds, look up to see the smoke vent as a small hip-and-gable roof in the middle of the great roof. The north entrance can also be seen from the grounds.
The building is still the temple's living quarters and is not open inside. Contact the temple if you have a particular reason to visit. Directions to the grounds are on the Honzenji Temple page.
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Q&A
- What is Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters used for?
- It combines the resident priest's family home and the temple kitchen. The temple also calls it the great kitchen.
- When was Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters built?
- In the mid-Edo period (1661 to 1750).
- What is on the roof of Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters?
- A small hip-and-gable smoke vent that let out the smoke from cooking on the earthen floor.
- How is Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters laid out inside?
- The western half is an earthen-floored work area; the eastern half is raised, with tatami rooms and board-floored rooms.
- Can I visit inside Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters?
- It is still used as the temple's living quarters and is not open to the public.
Basic Information
| Name | Honzenji Temple Priests' Quarters (本善寺庫裏) |
|---|---|
| Location | 567 Iigai, Yoshino Town, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building), registration no. 29-0158 |
| Year Designated | Registered January 15, 2010 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Wooden, single story, tiled roof; building area 249 square meters (18 meters by 13 meters) |
| Owner | Honzenji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the grounds; interior not open |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: 本善寺庫裏 (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008024
- Cultural Heritage Online: 本善寺庫裏 (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/174475
Last verified: 2026.09.27
