The store that held the temple's rice
Chokokuji Temple Rice Storehouse is a late Edo period earthen-walled store in Hase, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, dated to the second half of the eighteenth century and listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property in 2008.
It stands south of the Priests' Quarters and east of the Nakanokura Storehouse, facing west: 8.2 metres by 4.5 metres, two storeys, 42 square metres of floor area, under a gabled pantiled roof set independently over the walls, with a small porch before the doors on the west.
The upper walls are plastered and the lower part is boarded with stepped battens. Of the four earthen stores in the precinct this is the longest, nearly twice the length of the Treasure Storehouse or the Miso Storehouse.
Size as a measure of the temple
Chokokuji Temple Rice Storehouse was listed for its contribution to the historic landscape. The citation notes that it and the Nakanokura Storehouse stand on either side of the path to the front of the Priests' Quarters and give that approach its weight.
A rice store held the grain a temple received from the land it held. A length of 8.2 metres was presumably set by the quantity expected. Little direct documentation survives of how much land Chokokuji Temple held on Sado, so the dimensions of the store stand in as indirect evidence of its scale.
The date rests on the same source as the Nakanokura Storehouse: the precinct drawing of 1800, on which the building appears, which places its construction in the second half of the eighteenth century.
One of a facing pair
Look at Chokokuji Temple Rice Storehouse together with the store opposite. The two stand on either side of the path to the Priests' Quarters, so walking it means passing between two blank walls, with the view narrowed until you reach the entrance.
The boarding at the base is held by battens notched in steps, a technique that shields the joints between boards from wind and rain while producing a regular run of horizontal lines. Against the white plaster above, those lines read clearly.
The porch on the west front is smaller than its counterpart on the neighbouring store: a minimal roof over the doors and nothing more.
Seeing Chokokuji Temple Rice Storehouse
The exterior of Chokokuji Temple Rice Storehouse is visible at any time from the path in front of the Priests' Quarters. Since the front faces west, the afternoon brings light onto the doors.
The interior is not opened. To take in the full length, walk to the far end of the path towards the residence and then turn back.
The temple website sets no rule on photography. Directions and reception hours are on the Chokokuji Temple page.
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Q&A
- How old is Chokokuji Temple Rice Storehouse?
- It appears on the precinct drawing of 1800, so it is dated to the second half of the eighteenth century.
- How large is Chokokuji Temple Rice Storehouse?
- 8.2 metres by 4.5 metres with a floor area of 42 square metres, the longest of the earthen stores in this precinct.
- How are the walls of Chokokuji Temple Rice Storehouse finished?
- Plaster above and boarding below, held by battens notched in steps that give a regular run of horizontal lines.
- Can visitors enter Chokokuji Temple Rice Storehouse?
- No. The interior is not opened, though the exterior is visible from the path at any time.
- How does Chokokuji Temple Rice Storehouse relate to the Nakanokura Storehouse?
- The two face each other across the path to the front of the Priests' Quarters and together frame that approach.
Basic Information
| Name | Chokokuji Temple Rice Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 13 Hase Toyo, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered in 2008 (Heisei 20) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 8.2 metres by 4.5 metres, floor area 42 square metres |
| Owner | Chokokuji Temple, a religious corporation |
| Public Access | Exterior only; the interior is not open |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Cultural Properties Database: Chokokuji Temple Rice Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00006817
- Sado City: Registered Tangible Cultural Properties, Chokokuji Temple
- https://www.city.sado.niigata.jp/site/bunkazai/4964.html
- Chokokuji Temple: Visitor Information
- https://sado-choukokuji.jp/guidance/
Last verified: 2026.09.14
