Rengebuji Temple Mausoleum Shelter

A Shelter for Two Shrines

The Rengebuji Temple Mausoleum Shelter (蓮華峰寺御霊屋覆屋) is a protective shelter of the Taisho era in the precinct of Rengebuji Temple in Kobie, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on August 21, 2002 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 72 square metres; registration number 15-0129.

Housing the Toshogu and the Taitokuin Mausoleum

The Rengebuji Temple Mausoleum Shelter is the building that covers and protects two shrines, the Toshogu and the Taitokuin Mausoleum, from the weather (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It stands north of the Octagonal Hall.

Tradition holds that it was built in the Taisho era by the head priest two generations back (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Why It Was Registered

The Rengebuji Temple Mausoleum Shelter was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape. The Agency notes that it is to be preserved together with the shrines inside.

What to Look For

It has a gabled, pantiled roof, with board walls on the sides and back (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The front is now also closed with boarding and lattice windows, but that is recent; originally the front was open.

Through the lattice windows at the front of the Rengebuji Temple Mausoleum Shelter you can glimpse the two small shrines standing inside.

Visiting

The Rengebuji Temple Mausoleum Shelter stands north of the Octagonal Hall in the Rengebuji precinct, and its exterior can be seen within the grounds. No official information on interior access was found. Directions to the temple are given on the Rengebuji Temple page.