A Main Hall of 1492 at Ushimado
The Honrenji Temple Main Hall (本蓮寺本堂) is the late Muromachi main hall of Honrenji in the port town of Ushimado of 1492 in Ushimado, Ushimadocho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on June 26, 1942 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
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The Agency records a five-by-five-bay single-storey hall with a hipped tiled roof and a one-bay porch; designation number 01034.
The 1942 date in the Agency record is that of its designation under the former law.
A Main Hall of 1492
The main hall of Honrenji in Ushimado, Setouchi City, Okayama, dates from 1492 (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Five bays square and single-storey, it has a hipped roof of round and flat tiles and a one-bay porch at the front.
The grounds also keep the middle gate, built in the late Muromachi period as part of the same complex, and the Banjin Hall, three small shrines standing side by side under one cover building, all Important Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs). According to Okayama Kanko Web, Honrenji lodged the Korean envoys of the Joseon missions.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency record has no commentary; the date, 1492, and its form, a five-bay square hipped hall with a porch and a tiled roof, set out what was designated.
What to Look For
At the main hall, look for the tiled hipped roof over the five-bay square hall and the one-bay porch at the front (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
The main 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 was it built?
- In 1492 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What form does it take?
- A hipped hall with a porch.
- When was it designated?
- In 1942, under the former law.
- How do I get there?
- By bus from JR Oku Station.
- When was the Honrenji Temple Main Hall designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On June 26, 1942 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Honrenji Temple Main Hall (本蓮寺本堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | Ushimado, Ushimadocho, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1942/06/26 (Showa 17) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 5 bays by 5 bays, single storey, hipped roof, one-bay porch, tiled |
| 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 Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/3061
- Honrenji Temple (Okayama Kanko Web, in Japanese)
- https://www.okayama-kanko.jp/spot/detail_11181.html
Last verified: 2026.11.10
