Hofukuji Temple Treasure Storehouse: Namako Tilework Carried Up the Corners
The Hofukuji Temple Treasure Storehouse (寶福寺宝蔵, Hōfukuji Hōzō) is a clay-walled storehouse built in 1793 behind the priests' quarters of Hōfukuji, a Rinzai Zen temple in Ijirino, Soja City, Okayama Prefecture, registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan on January 8, 2009.
It stands behind the priests' quarters with its ridge running east to west, a 2-story building in the Dozo-zukuri storehouse method, 7.9 m by 4.9 m, with a building area of 39 square meters. The roof is a gable in the Kirizuma-zukuri form covered in Sangawara-buki pantiles. The outer walls are finished in Shikkui plaster, with a lower band of namako-kabe: flat tiles set into the wall with their joints built up in raised, rounded lines of plaster, a finish that protects the clay from rain and fire.
Temples commonly kept their treasures and scriptures in fire-resistant storehouses of this kind. The Hofukuji Temple Treasure Storehouse was one of the 6 structures registered first, on January 8, 2009, together with the abbot's quarters and the priests' quarters, as registration number 33-0207.
Why It Was Registered
The Hofukuji Temple Treasure Storehouse was registered as a structure that would not be easy to reproduce. It is the only one of Hofukuji's 24 registered structures to be registered under that criterion; the others were registered as models of design or for their contribution to the historic landscape.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes it as built with extreme care and rewarding to look at, and the reason is the extent of the namako work. At the 4 corners, the lower band of tilework is carried up the wall all the way to the hachimaki, the thickened plaster band beneath the eaves. Bands of namako and drip tiles also run across the upper gables and beneath the windows on the long sides, so the grid of tile and plaster continues well beyond the base of the wall.
Every tile has to be set out and laid by hand, and every joint raised in plaster by a skilled plasterer. Corners and window surrounds are the hardest places to set out, and carrying the tilework into them is exactly what makes this building hard to reproduce.
What to Look For
At the Hofukuji Temple Treasure Storehouse, go first to a corner. The namako band turns upward and runs straight to the plaster band under the eaves, a vertical strip of tile-and-plaster grid set against the white wall.
Then look under the windows on the long sides, where namako and drip tiles run horizontally to shed rainwater from the wall, a practical detail turned into ornament. The same band crosses the upper gables, so check the triangle of each gable end as well.
Notice where it stands: behind the kitchen and offices of the priests' quarters, with the Tenzo well to the south. The sutra repository of 1764 northwest of the Buddha Hall is also a clay-walled storehouse; compare the 2, and the same storehouse method appears in very different dress: temple-hall ornament on the repository, namako tilework here.
Visiting
The Hofukuji Temple Treasure Storehouse stands behind the priests' quarters and can be seen from outside during temple hours, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. The grounds are free, and no interior opening is announced.
The priests' quarters lies east of the Entrance Hall and Dining Hall, which in turn adjoins the abbot's quarters; the storehouse is behind it. The priests' quarters is part of the temple's living space, so stay on the paths and view the exterior only.
JR Soja Station is about half an hour away on foot; the Okayama Soja interchange is roughly a quarter of an hour by car. There is parking for 75 cars, and larger vehicles use a second lot on the west side. No photography restrictions are posted.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Okayama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Hofukuji Temple Treasure Storehouse
- [ Kurashiki Bikan District & Korakuen Garden Tours ]
Q&A
- When was the Hofukuji Temple Treasure Storehouse built?
- In 1793. It was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property on January 8, 2009.
- Under what criterion was the Hofukuji Treasure Storehouse registered?
- As a structure not easy to reproduce, the only one of Hofukuji's 24 registered structures under that criterion.
- How large is the Hofukuji Temple Treasure Storehouse?
- It is a 2-story clay-walled storehouse, 7.9 m by 4.9 m, with a building area of 39 square meters.
- What should I look for at the Hofukuji Treasure Storehouse?
- The namako tilework carried up the corners to the eaves band, and the bands of tile under the windows and across the gables.
- Can visitors see the Hofukuji Temple Treasure Storehouse?
- The exterior can be seen free of charge during temple hours, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. No interior opening is announced.
Basic Information
| Name | Hofukuji Temple Treasure Storehouse |
|---|---|
| Location | 1968-1 Ijirino, Soja City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | 2009 (Heisei 21), registered |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 2-story storehouse construction, tiled roof, building area 39 square meters, 7.9 m by 4.9 m |
| Owner | Hofukuji (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Exterior only (no admission fee) |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Database of National Cultural Properties: Hofukuji Hozo
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007590
- Cultural Heritage Online: Hofukuji Hozo
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/172892
- Soja City: Hofukuji Registered Buildings (24 structures)
- https://www.city.soja.okayama.jp/soshiki/26/2960.html
- Okayama Kanko Web: Hofukuji
- https://www.okayama-kanko.jp/spot/detail_10821.html
Last verified: 2026.09.10