Three Shrines under One Roof
The Honrenji Temple Banjin Hall (本蓮寺番神堂) is a Banjin hall of three small shrines standing side by side under one cover building of 1468 to 1500 in Ushimado, Ushimadocho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on May 14, 1958 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records three buildings, the east shrine of 1468, the middle shrine of the 1490s and the west shrine of 1500; designation number 01436.
Three Shrines under One Cover
The Banjin Hall of Honrenji, south-west of the main hall, holds three small shrine buildings standing side by side under one cover building (Agency for Cultural Affairs). A Banjin hall enshrines the thirty guardian deities of the Lotus Sutra at Nichiren temples.
The east shrine, of 1468, and the west shrine, of 1500, are one-bay nagare-style halls; the middle shrine, of the 1490s, is one bay square with a hip-and-gable roof and a one-bay porch. All are roofed in wooden shingles. Built in the late Muromachi period with fine details, the three are valuable remains of their kind (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency values the three shrines as late Muromachi buildings with fine details, rare survivors of their kind.
What to Look For
At the Banjin Hall, look for the three shrines side by side under one cover, and the middle one alone with a hip-and-gable roof (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
The Banjin Hall is owned by Honrenji (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to Okayama Kanko Web, Honrenji is a temple where the Korean envoys of the Joseon missions lodged; it is about 20 minutes by bus from JR Oku Station for Ushimado, a short walk from the Honrenji-shita stop. It gives no hours or fees. The main hall, middle gate and Banjin Hall are introduced together on the Honrenji Temple (Ushimado) page.
Q&A
- When were they built?
- Between 1468 and 1500.
- How many buildings are there?
- Three, under one cover building.
- Where is it?
- South-west of the main hall.
- When was it designated?
- In 1958 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- When was the Honrenji Temple Banjin Hall designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On May 14, 1958 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Honrenji Temple Banjin Hall (本蓮寺番神堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | Ushimado, Ushimadocho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1958/05/14 (Showa 33) |
| Quantity | 3 buildings |
| Dimensions | East and west shrines: one-bay nagare style; middle shrine: hip-and-gable roof with porch; all wooden shingles |
| Owner | Honrenji Temple |
| Public Access | About 20 minutes by bus for Ushimado from JR Oku Station, a short walk from the Honrenji-shita stop (Okayama Kanko Web) |
References
- Honrenji Temple Banjin Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/3062
- Honrenji Temple (Okayama Kanko Web, in Japanese)
- https://www.okayama-kanko.jp/spot/detail_11181.html
Last verified: 2026.11.10
Cultural Treasures in the Same Area
All are within walking distance in the same area, so we recommend visiting them together.
- Honrenji Temple Banjindo East shrine 0.00 km
- Honrenji Temple Banjindo Middle shrine 0.00 km
- Honrenji Temple Banjindo West shrine 0.00 km
