Sankoji Temple Main Hall

A Pure Land Temple Hall of 1916

The Sankoji Temple Main Hall (三光寺本堂, Sankō-ji hondō) is the main hall of a Jodo (Pure Land) school temple, built in 1916 and facing west onto Teramachi-dori street in Suwa-machi, Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on October 27, 2017 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a single-storey timber building with a copper-sheet roof and a building area of 333 square metres, renovated in 1999; registration number 15-465, owned by the religious corporation Sankoji.

A Temple on Teramachi Street

The Sankoji Temple Main Hall faces Teramachi-dori, the temple street of the castle town of Shibata (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The Niigata Prefectural Tourism Association's blog notes that many temples line the street, making it good for a temple walk.

The same article says that Teramachi Tamari-eki, a rest stop on the street, is about 10 minutes' walk from Shibata Station and makes a good starting point.

Why It Was Registered

The Sankoji Temple Main Hall was registered as a structure that contributes to the historic landscape of the country, a Taisho-period hall that helps shape the townscape of Teramachi-dori (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

What to Look For

A one-bay boarded strip is taken into the front of the outer sanctuary (gejin), a one-bay porch is added, and a rear hall and founder's hall project at the back (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The central pillars of the outer sanctuary are polished logs 1.4 shaku (about 42 centimetres) across. Except around the inner sanctuary (naijin), the pillars are not tied by rainbow beams or tie beams, creating a space with a high lintel line (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

Sankoji faces Teramachi-dori, and the exterior of the main hall can be seen from the street. No official information on interior opening has been found.

The address is 390-ko, Suwa-machi 2-chome, Shibata City (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Teramachi-dori is about 10 minutes' walk from Shibata Station (Niigata Prefectural Tourism Association).