A Gate in the Spirit of Zen Design
The Honkoji Temple Main Gate (本光寺大門) is a yakuimon gate of 1846 in Sawanekagomachi, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on March 7, 2008 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a tiled timber gate 2.5 metres wide with a wicket on each side, moved here in 1973; registration number 15-0294.
A Yakuimon on the Street
The Honkoji Temple Main Gate is a one-bay yakuimon facing the street, with a wicket on each side and a gabled pantiled roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its main posts are round and tapered at the ends, the rear posts square, and all stand on stone bases.
In the gable, two tiers of beam-like tie-rails, bottle-shaped struts, carved beam ends, scrolled side boards and a steeply rising curved beam make an impressive frame (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency calls it a fine design with the Zen style in mind and registered it as a model of design.
What to Look For
Look at the gable, with its two tiers of tie-rails, bottle-shaped struts and the steeply curved beam (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Honkoji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The four structures are introduced together on the Honkoji Temple page. No official visiting information was found.
Q&A
- When was it built?
- In 1846; it was moved here in 1973 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What type of gate is it?
- A one-bay yakuimon with wickets and a gabled tiled roof.
- What should I look for?
- The layered frame in the gable.
- Why was it registered?
- For its fine design in the spirit of the Zen style.
- When was the Honkoji Temple Main Gate registered?
- On March 7, 2008 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Honkoji Temple Main Gate (本光寺大門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 39 Sawanekagomachi, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2008/03/07 (Heisei 20) |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | Timber, tiled roof, 2.5 m wide, with wickets |
| Owner | Honkoji Temple (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Honkoji Temple Main Gate (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00006821
Last verified: 2026.10.21
