A timber hall on a brick plinth
The Myokyoji Hokokaku (妙教寺宝光閣, Myōkyō-ji Hōkōkaku) is a building of 1909 south-west of the drum tower at Saijo Inari Myokyoji in Takamatsu Inari, Kita Ward, Okayama City, renovated in 1979 and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on 2009/01/08. An Okayama City article names its carpenter as Mizuno Shintaro.
The Myokyoji Hokokaku has one storey above ground and one below. Its rear juts out over the road beyond the temple boundary, carried on a tall base of brick. Traditional timber above, modern brick below: the two sit one on top of the other in a single building.
A bell-shaped window and a brick arch
The upper part has a hip-and-gable roof of pantiles with copper only along the eaves, and a small triangular dormer gable on the front. The eaves rest on simple boat-shaped brackets over widely spaced rafters. The walls have wooden wainscoting below white plaster, and the south side has a bell-shaped katomado window with a pointed head. The building area is 97 square metres.
At the back, the brick foundation rises high and is opened by an arch. Brick takes up the drop between the slope and the road, and a temple building sits on top. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes the result as a distinctive exterior and registered it for its contribution to the historic landscape.
What to look for, and visiting
The Myokyoji Hokokaku stands on the lower terrace near the guest hall and drum tower, and can be seen both from inside the grounds and from the road behind. Go round to the road to see the brick base and arch. The interior is not open.
From the grounds you see the white front with its dormer gable and bell-shaped window; from the road you look up at the brick. Compare the two faces of the same building. There is no charge. Opening hours and directions are on the Saijo Inari Myokyoji page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Okayama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Myokyoji Hokokaku
- [ Kurashiki Bikan District & Korakuen Garden Tours ]
Q&A
- What is unusual about the Myokyoji Hokokaku?
- Its traditional timber upper part rests at the back on a tall brick foundation with an arch, where it projects over the road.
- When was the Myokyoji Hokokaku built?
- In 1909, with a renovation in 1979.
- Can I go inside the Myokyoji Hokokaku?
- No. The exterior can be seen from the grounds and the road behind.
- What kind of window does the Hokokaku have?
- A bell-shaped katomado window with a pointed head on its south side, set in white plaster above wooden wainscoting.
- When was the Hokokaku registered?
- On 2009/01/08.
Basic Information
| Name | Myokyoji Hokokaku (妙教寺宝光閣) |
|---|---|
| Location | 712 Takamatsu Inari, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | National Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure); registration number 33-0174 |
| Year Designated | Registered 2009/01/08 (Heisei 21) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber with 1 basement level, pantile and copper roofing; building area 97 square metres |
| Owner | Saijo Inarisan Myokyoji (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Exterior can be seen from the grounds and the road (no charge); interior closed |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs) — Myokyoji Hokokaku
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00007557
- Okayama City — Modern Japanese-style architecture at Saijo Inari Myokyoji, by Yasukawa Mitsuru (Japanese)
- https://www.city.okayama.jp/kankou/cmsfiles/contents/0000005/5279/000179262.pdf
- Saijo Inari official site — Guide to the grounds (Japanese)
- https://inari.ne.jp/guide/
Last verified: 2026.10.01
