Shinkoji Temple

About Shinkoji Temple

Shinkoji Temple (真光寺) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Nishikatakami, Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, whose main hall, enlarged to five bays in 1516, and mid-Muromachi three-storey pagoda were each designated an Important Cultural Property on November 14, 1953. According to Okayama Prefecture, the temple is said to have been founded by the monk Gyoki and was later counted among the 48 temples of Bizen established by Hoon Daishi.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs lists both buildings as jointly owned by two sub-temples, Shinkoji Kazoin and Shinkoji Jishoin, which together maintain the temple today. The Okayama tourism federation gives Jishoin as the contact.

Two Important Cultural Properties

The main hall began as a three-bay hall rebuilt in the Oei era and was enlarged in 1516 into a hall five bays by five (Okayama Prefecture). Carved details on the great tie beams of the outer sanctuary are Muromachi in character, while the shrine cabinet in the inner sanctuary shows Momoyama-period patterns and colour.

The three-storey pagoda, the prefecture says, was moved here in 1601 from Rengechoji Temple in Ushimado. It stands 18.24 metres tall, and the frog-leg struts on its first storey are carved with Sanskrit seed syllables set in moon discs. The two buildings were designated on the same day.

The Agency dates the main hall to the late Muromachi period and the pagoda to the mid-Muromachi period, so the two arrived in this precinct by quite different routes.

Walking the Precinct

At Shinkoji Temple the main hall and pagoda share one precinct, so the two are easily seen in a single visit. The Okayama tourism federation picks out the red pagoda as the temple's landmark and also recommends the view from neighbouring Chausuyama Park towards the temple.

Access details for each building are given on their own pages; Okayama Prefecture lists the pagoda as exterior viewing only.

Getting to Shinkoji Temple

Shinkoji Temple is at 1509 Nishikatakami, Bizen City, about a 5-minute walk from JR Nishi-Katakami Station on the Ako Line. By car it is about 10 minutes from the Wake Interchange on the Sanyo Expressway, and there is parking (Okayama tourism federation). We found no official information on admission fees. Enquiries go to Jishoin (0869-64-2144).