A Carved Gate at a Temple of the Boshin War
The Jigenji Temple Main Gate (慈眼寺山門) is a two-storey temple gate of about 1892 in Heisei, Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on November 17, 2015 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey timber gate roofed in metal sheet, with a building area of 50 square metres, renovated in 2006; registration number 15-0423.
A Three-Bay Gate at the Precinct Entrance
The Jigenji Temple Main Gate is a two-storey gate, three bays wide with one passage, facing north at the entrance to the precinct (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Its hip-and-gable roof carries a cusped gable over the eaves on both front and back.
The design is based on the Zen style. Bracket sets on both storeys project three steps, with tail rafters above (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The boards between the brackets are carved in relief with waves and cranes, and dragons fill the upper frog-leg struts.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape, a gate of steady proportions with carving well worth a close look.
What to Look For
Stand beneath the gate and look up at the waves and cranes on the boards and the dragons in the upper struts (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Jigenji is where, on May 2, 1868, the Nagaoka domain elder Kawai Tsuginosuke met Iwamura Seiichirō of the new government's army; the talks failed and the Hokuetsu campaign of the Boshin War followed (Ojiya Tourism Association). The Niigata Prefectural Tourist Association says the meeting room survives, repaired with donations after its walls fell in the 2004 Chūetsu earthquake.
Visiting
According to the Niigata Prefectural Tourist Association, visits to the meeting room must be booked in advance. The temple is about 30 minutes' walk or 6 minutes by taxi from Ojiya Station, and the gate stands at the entrance to the precinct.
Q&A
- When was the Jigenji Temple Main Gate built?
- In about 1892 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What should I look for at the Jigenji gate?
- The three-step bracket sets and the carved waves, cranes and dragons.
- Can I see the meeting room at Jigenji?
- Yes, by advance booking (Niigata Prefectural Tourist Association).
- Why is Jigenji in Ojiya famous?
- Kawai Tsuginosuke met the new government's envoy there in 1868.
- When was the Jigenji Temple Main Gate registered?
- On November 17, 2015 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Jigenji Temple Main Gate (慈眼寺山門) |
|---|---|
| Location | 273-1 Heisei Nichome, Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2015/11/17 (Heisei 27) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey timber, metal roof, 50 m² |
| Owner | Jigenji Temple (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Gate visible at the entrance (meeting room by appointment) |
References
- Jigenji Temple Main Gate (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010762
- Kawai and Iwamura meeting place (Ojiya Tourism Association, Japanese)
- https://www.ojiyakanko.com/place_kaiken.html
- Kawai Tsuginosuke in Ojiya (Niigata Prefectural Tourist Association, Japanese)
- https://niigata-kankou.or.jp/blog/737
Last verified: 2026.10.15