Honrenji Temple (Ushimado)

Honrenji Temple, Ushimado

Honrenji (本蓮寺) is a temple in Ushimado, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture; its main hall of 1492, its middle gate of around the 1490s and its Banjin Hall, three shrines of 1468 to 1500, are each designated as an Important Cultural Property (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The main hall's date of June 26, 1942 is that of designation under the former law. All three are owned by the temple.

According to Okayama Kanko Web, Honrenji lodged the Korean envoys of the Joseon missions.

Main Hall, Middle Gate and Banjin Hall

The main hall is five bays square and single-storey, with a hipped roof of round and flat tiles and a one-bay porch (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The middle gate at the western edge of the precinct, built in the late Muromachi period as part of the same complex, is a tiled munamon whose details differ from the ordinary type. South-west of the main hall, the Banjin Hall holds east, middle and west shrines side by side under one cover building, all with fine details (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Each is described on its own page.

Visiting

According to Okayama Kanko Web, the temple is about 20 minutes by bus for Ushimado from JR Oku Station, a short walk from the Honrenji-shita stop; it gives no hours or fees.