What Is Honzenji Temple Entrance?
Honzenji Temple Entrance (本善寺玄関, Honzen-ji Genkan) is the formal entrance porch with a raised step (Shikidai) on the north front of the guest hall at Honzenji in Iigai, Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture; the national database dates it to 1860, and it became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on January 15, 2010.
The temple calls it the Ōgenkan, or great entrance. It is the ceremonial way into the chain of buildings west of the main hall, namely the guest hall, the Onari Goten hall and the priests' quarters. The building area is 86 square meters.
A Curved Gable and Carvings
Honzenji Temple Entrance measures 6.6 by 4.5 meters. It has a gabled roof (Kirizuma-zukuri) finished at the front with a cusped, wave-shaped karahafu gable, and it is roofed in cypress bark (Hiwadabuki), at present temporarily covered in copper sheet. A lean-to extends on the east side.
Above the door frames, openwork transoms show qilin, the mythical beasts, among waves and flying dragons, and figures of sumo wrestlers crouch on top of the curved tie beam (Kōryō). Carving runs across the whole of the wide front.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs registered Honzenji Temple Entrance for its contribution to the historic landscape, under number 29-0155. Its description singles out the unusual roof and the carving, calling it a formal entrance with a showy facade.
Two Records of Date and Form
The temple's guide says Honzenji Temple Entrance was built together with the guest hall in 1772, soon after the main hall, and repaired in 1859. It gives the size as 6.61 by 7.69 meters and describes a hip-and-gable north end with a cusped gable at the eaves, a gabled south end, and a cypress-bark roof sheathed in copper except at the north end.
The national database dates it to 1860 and gives a depth of 4.5 meters. Since that date falls almost on the repair the temple records, the written sources alone cannot settle which year marks the building and which the rework. This page follows the national date and dimensions.
Seeing Honzenji Temple Entrance
Honzenji Temple Entrance lies west of the main hall, at the north end of the guest hall. Stand in front and look up to follow the curve of the gable and to pick out the qilin, dragons and sumo figures. From the side, the temporary copper roof still keeps the thick profile of a bark roof.
Whether you can step up from the entrance into the guest hall depends on temple events and visitors. If you hope to see the interior, contact the temple beforehand. Directions to the grounds are on the Honzenji Temple page.
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Q&A
- When was Honzenji Temple Entrance built?
- The national database gives 1860. The temple's guide says it was built in 1772 and repaired in 1859.
- What kind of roof does Honzenji Temple Entrance have?
- A gabled roof with a curved karahafu gable at the front, roofed in cypress bark and temporarily covered in copper.
- What carvings can be seen on Honzenji Temple Entrance?
- Openwork transoms with qilin among waves and flying dragons, and sumo wrestler figures on the curved tie beam.
- Which buildings does Honzenji Temple Entrance lead into?
- It is the formal entrance on the north front of the guest hall, leading to the guest hall, Onari Goten hall and priests' quarters.
- Can visitors enter through Honzenji Temple Entrance?
- No regular interior opening is announced. Please contact the temple if you wish to see inside.
Basic Information
| Name | Honzenji Temple Entrance (本善寺玄関) |
|---|---|
| Location | 567 Iigai, Yoshino Town, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building), registration no. 29-0155 |
| Year Designated | Registered January 15, 2010 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Wooden, single story, cypress-bark roof (temporarily in copper); building area 86 square meters (6.6 meters by 4.5 meters) |
| Owner | Honzenji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the grounds; no regular interior opening announced |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: 本善寺玄関 (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008021
- Cultural Heritage Online: 本善寺玄関 (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/193172
Last verified: 2026.09.27
