What Is Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall?
Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall (本善寺蓮如堂拝堂, Honzen-ji Rennyo-dō Haidō) is the hall for worshippers in front of Rennyo Hall at Honzenji in Iigai, Yoshino Town, Nara Prefecture; the national database dates it to 1748, and it became a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on January 15, 2010.
A covered passage joins it to Rennyo Hall behind, and visitors pray from here toward the founder enshrined at the back. Its building area of 36 square meters is almost four times that of the one-bay hall it serves.
A Light, Single-Room Hall
Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall is three bays wide and two deep, with a hip-and-gable roof (Irimoya-zukuri) in traditional pantiles and a veranda (Kirime-en) all the way round. Inside is one room with a polished plank floor under a coffered ceiling (Gō-tenjō).
The front has paneled doors (Sankarado), and the other sides use top-hinged lattice shutters (Shitomido). The small walls above are finished in white plaster (Shikkui), and the eaves carry a single layer of widely spaced rafters. The feature most often singled out is the set of carved bracket arms, called eyō-hijiki, that sit on top of the posts.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs registered Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall for its contribution to the historic landscape, under number 29-0151, and describes it as a light and airy building.
A Mallet in the Roof Space
Two dates are given for the building. The temple's guide says it followed Rennyo Hall in 1754. But the temple also reports that during the restoration for Rennyo's 500th memorial, a carpenter's mallet turned up in the roof space of Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall, inscribed with a date equivalent to 1748 and the name of the master builder, Fujiwara Ichirobei.
That inscription matches the 1748 date in the national database, which this page follows while noting the temple's later date. The covered passage with its cusped gable was added, according to the temple, in 1881.
Seeing Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall
Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall stands in the eastern part of the grounds and can be seen head-on from the east side of the main hall. Stand at the edge of the veranda and look up to read the carving of the bracket arms; along the sides, the rows of shutters and white plaster keep the building bright.
No days for entering the hall or rules on photography are published, so ask the temple if you would like to see inside. Directions to the grounds are on the Honzenji Temple page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Nara
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall
- [ Todaiji Great Buddha & Nara Park Deer Experience ]
Q&A
- What is Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall used for?
- It is where visitors pray toward the founder Rennyo, who is enshrined in the small hall behind it. The two are joined by a covered passage.
- When was Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall built?
- The national database gives 1748. The temple's guide gives 1754, but a mallet inscribed with a date equivalent to 1748 was found in the roof during restoration.
- What is the interior of Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall like?
- A single room with a polished plank floor and a coffered ceiling.
- What details should I look for at Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall?
- The carved bracket arms on top of the posts, the paneled front doors, the lattice shutters, the plastered walls and the light single-layer eaves.
- Can I enter Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall?
- No regular opening or photography rules are published. Please contact the temple.
Basic Information
| Name | Honzenji Temple Rennyo Hall Worship Hall (本善寺蓮如堂拝堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 567 Iigai, Yoshino Town, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building), registration no. 29-0151 |
| Year Designated | Registered January 15, 2010 |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Wooden, single story, tiled roof; building area 36 square meters (3 bays by 2 bays) |
| Owner | Honzenji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the grounds; no published interior opening |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties: 本善寺蓮如堂拝堂 (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00008017
- Cultural Heritage Online: 本善寺蓮如堂拝堂 (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/163628
Last verified: 2026.09.27
