The Great Hall of a Head Temple
The Honjoji Temple Main Hall (本成寺本堂) is a grand temple hall built by carpenters from Toyama of 1903 in Nishihonjoji, Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on October 14, 2021 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a sheet-metal roof and a building area of 881 square metres, altered in 1957 and 1999; registration number 15-0555.
The Hall of a Head Temple
Honjoji, in the town of Sanjo, is the head temple of the Jinmon branch of the Hokke school of Buddhism (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The main hall has a hip-and-gable roof of metal sheet shaped like round tiles, and its three-bay porch carries a cusped gable decorated with three gable pendants.
The inner sanctuary projects outward with a raised floor, and a projection at the back serves as a place to worship the relic tower behind. Fine carvings decorate the hall throughout (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes that it is a grand hall by carpenters from Toyama, decorated throughout with fine carvings, and registered it as a model of design.
What to Look For
Look for the porch's cusped gable with three pendants and the carvings throughout (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Honjoji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to the Niigata Prefecture tourism site, the grounds are free and open every day, with a fee for the treasure hall; it is about 15 minutes on foot from JR Sanjo Station. The five buildings are covered together on the Honjoji Temple group page.
Q&A
- When was the Main Hall built?
- In 1903, with alterations in 1957 and 1999 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What kind of temple is Honjoji?
- The head temple of the Jinmon branch of the Hokke school.
- Who built the hall?
- Carpenters from Toyama.
- What is the projection at the back for?
- Worshipping the relic tower behind.
- When was the Honjoji Temple Main Hall registered?
- On October 14, 2021 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Honjoji Temple Main Hall (本成寺本堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3861 Nishihonjoji 1-chome, Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2021/10/14 (Reiwa 3) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, single storey, sheet-metal roof, 881 m² |
| Owner | Honjoji Temple |
| Public Access | Grounds open freely; 15 min walk from JR Sanjo Station |
References
- Honjoji Temple Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00013974
- Honjoji (Niigata tourism site, Japanese)
- https://niigata-kankou.or.jp/spot/5728
Last verified: 2026.10.19
