White Walls That Frame the Precinct
Toshoji Temple Gate and Earthen Walls (洞松寺門及び土塀, Tōshō-ji Mon oyobi Dobei) is a small gate and a set of plastered earthen walls at Toshoji, a Soto Zen monastery in Yakage, Okayama Prefecture, built in the early Meiji period and listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on July 25, 2011. The listing covers the gate on the west side of the Getsusen-in residence, the walls that turn at right angles from it to enclose Getsusen-in, and the walls on either side of the main Sanmon gate, 75 meters of wall in all.
A Ridge-Roofed Gate Hung with Paneled Doors
The gate is a one-bay Munamon, a simple roofed gateway on two posts, with a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof in Sangawara-buki pantiles and an opening 1.3 meters wide. Its two leaves are Mairado, board doors ribbed with closely spaced horizontal slats, a type usually found inside reception rooms rather than on gates. Using them here gives the entrance to the priest's house a light, domestic feel.
The walls are finished in Shikkui lime plaster. The Agency for Cultural Affairs credits their clean design with tightening up the look of the whole precinct. It is a listing that honors not a building but the structures that divide and connect the buildings.
What to Look For
The first part of Toshoji Temple Gate and Earthen Walls you meet is the white wall running off both sides of the Sanmon. Seen from the approach, the plaster bands catch the gate on left and right and make its two-story outline stand out sharply.
Inside the precinct, head left to the corner where the wall around Getsusen-in turns at a right angle; there you can judge the thickness of the wall and the tautness of the plaster face. The little west gate is easy to miss, and the fine ribbing of its doors only shows up close.
Visiting the Gate and Walls
The walls and gate can be seen freely from outside. The Getsusen-in gate leads into the head priest's residence, so do not go through it. Lime plaster damages easily; do not touch the walls or lean on them. Photography is fine, but avoid pointing your camera through the gate.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Okayama
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Toshoji Temple Gate and Earthen Walls
- [ Kurashiki Bikan District & Korakuen Garden Tours ]
Q&A
- What is Toshoji Temple Gate and Earthen Walls?
- It is a registered set made up of the gate on the west side of Getsusen-in, the walls enclosing Getsusen-in, and the walls flanking the Sanmon. Built in the early Meiji period, it was listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on July 25, 2011.
- How long are Toshoji Temple Gate and Earthen Walls?
- The walls total 75 meters. The gate is a one-bay ridge-roofed gateway 1.3 meters wide.
- Can visitors see Toshoji Temple Gate and Earthen Walls freely?
- Yes, from outside. The area behind the Getsusen-in gate is the head priest's residence and is not open.
- What kind of doors does the gate of Toshoji Temple Gate and Earthen Walls have?
- Paneled mairado doors ribbed with fine horizontal slats, hung as a pair of swinging leaves. Doors of this type are usually used inside reception rooms.
- Where are Toshoji Temple Gate and Earthen Walls?
- Around the Getsusen-in residence and on both sides of the Sanmon. The gate opens on the west side of Getsusen-in.
Basic Information
| Name | Toshoji Temple Gate and Earthen Walls (洞松寺門及び土塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 3796 Funakidani, Yokotani, Yakage-cho, Oda District, Okayama Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2011/7/25 (Heisei 23) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Gate opening 1.3 meters; walls 75 meters in total length |
| Owner | Toshoji (religious corporation) |
| Public Access | Freely visible from outside; no entry through the Getsusen-in gate |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Toshoji Temple Gate and Earthen Walls
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00008770
- Yakage Board of Education, Cultural Properties of Yakage: National and registered properties (Toshoji)
- https://bunkazai.yakage-kyouiku.info/shiteibunkazai/nicp
- Yakage Board of Education, Cultural Properties of Yakage: Town-designated buildings (Toshoji Sanmon)
- https://bunkazai.yakage-kyouiku.info/shiteibunkazai/ticp/ticp_1
Last verified: 2026.09.24
