Two Buildings Joined by Corridors
The Chomeiji Temple (Sanbutsudo and Gohogongensha Worship Hall) (長命寺 三仏堂・護法権現社拝殿) is a pair of buildings at Chomeiji Temple in Chomeiji-cho, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture, built between the late Muromachi and Momoyama periods and designated an Important Cultural Property in 2021.
The designation is listed simply as "Chomeiji Temple" and covers two buildings: the Sanbutsudo, or Hall of the Three Buddhas, and the worship hall of the Gohogongensha shrine. Agency for Cultural Affairs records date the Sanbutsudo to the Tensho era (late sixteenth century) and the worship hall to 1565. Three pilgrim and ridge tags, a small shrine (主痘神祠) and a wooden plaque are designated with them as attached items (Tsuketari).
Both stand west of the main hall. A covered corridor runs from the main hall to the Sanbutsudo and a second one on to the worship hall, so temple hall and shrine form a single chain along the narrow mountainside terrace.
Why the Sanbutsudo and Gohogongensha Worship Hall Matter
The Agency explains that Chomeiji lost its buildings in fighting in 1516 and that the present halls were rebuilt afterwards. It values the Sanbutsudo and Gohogongensha Worship Hall as evidence of recovery from that late-Muromachi destruction and as part of the precinct of a Kannon pilgrimage temple.
The 2021 recommendation by the Council for Cultural Affairs presented them under the heading of a Kannon pilgrimage site's recovery from the loss of its buildings at the end of the medieval period, and designated them for their high historical value. The two buildings were designated an Important Cultural Property in 2021, and with that the main buildings of the precinct were recognised together.
The inclusion of pilgrim tags among the attached items suits the character of the place. Chomeiji is Temple No. 31 on the Saigoku pilgrimage, and the tags left with the buildings carry a trace of the people who have kept coming here.
What to Look For
The Sanbutsudo
The Sanbutsudo is five bays by four, with a hip-and-gable (Irimoya-zukuri) roof of cypress bark (Hiwadabuki) and a corridor on its east side. It enshrines Shaka, Amida and Yakushi, the three Buddhas that give it its name. The Agency singles out the steep pitch of the roof, which makes the ridge stand tall. Seen beside the broad roof of the main hall, the sharper rise of the Sanbutsudo roof is easy to pick out.
The Gohogongensha Worship Hall
The worship hall is three bays by two, also hip-and-gable and roofed in cypress bark, with its own east corridor linking it to the Sanbutsudo. It is the place of worship in front of the main sanctuary of Takenouchi no Sukune, the legendary figure regarded as the temple's founder. The sanctuary behind is not part of the designation. A Buddhist hall and a shrine joined by corridors into one sequence is the most striking feature of the Chomeiji Temple (Sanbutsudo and Gohogongensha Worship Hall).
Visiting the Sanbutsudo and Gohogongensha Worship Hall
The Sanbutsudo and Gohogongensha Worship Hall can be seen from outside, just west of the main hall; no official notice of interior openings could be found. The precinct is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with no admission fee.
Walk west from the front of the main hall to follow the corridors from building to building, then step back to compare the heights of the two roofs. No official rules on photography were found, so follow any notices on site. Directions to the temple are on the Chomeiji Temple page.
Q&A
- When were the Chomeiji Sanbutsudo and Gohogongensha Worship Hall built?
- Agency records date the worship hall to 1565 and the Sanbutsudo to the Tensho era in the late sixteenth century.
- When were the Chomeiji Sanbutsudo and Gohogongensha Worship Hall designated Important Cultural Properties?
- On 2 August 2021, together under the name "Chomeiji Temple".
- What is enshrined in the Chomeiji Sanbutsudo?
- Shaka, Amida and Yakushi, the three Buddhas behind the hall's name.
- What is the Chomeiji Gohogongensha Worship Hall used for?
- It is the place of worship for the sanctuary of Takenouchi no Sukune, regarded as the temple's founder, and is linked to the Sanbutsudo by a corridor.
- Can visitors see the Chomeiji Sanbutsudo and Gohogongensha Worship Hall?
- Yes, from outside, free of charge from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. No official notice of interior openings could be found.
Basic Information
| Name | Chomeiji Temple (Sanbutsudo and Gohogongensha Worship Hall) (長命寺 三仏堂・護法権現社拝殿) |
|---|---|
| Location | Chomeiji-cho, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (buildings) |
| Year Designated | 2 August 2021 (Reiwa 3) |
| Quantity | 2 buildings (with 3 pilgrim and ridge tags, 1 small shrine, 1 wooden plaque) |
| Dimensions | Sanbutsudo: 5 bays by 4 bays, single storey, hip-and-gable, east corridor, cypress bark; worship hall: 3 bays by 2 bays, single storey, hip-and-gable, east corridor, cypress bark |
| Owner | Chomeiji Religious Corporation |
| Public Access | Exterior open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., free; no interior opening announced |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Chomeiji Sanbutsudo (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/00005359
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Chomeiji Gohogongensha Worship Hall (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/00005360
- Agency for Cultural Affairs press release on Important Cultural Property designations, 21 May 2021 (Japanese)
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/93079501.html
- Cultural Heritage Online: Chomeiji Sanbutsudo (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/596359
- Cultural Heritage Online: Chomeiji Gohogongensha Worship Hall (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/590090
- Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage Association: Temple No. 31 Chomeiji (Japanese)
- https://saikoku33.gr.jp/place/31
Last verified: 2026.10.04
Cultural Treasures in the Same Area
All are within walking distance in the same area, so we recommend visiting them together.
- Chomeiji Temple Sanbutsu-do Hall 0.00 km
- Chomeiji Temple Goho Gongen Shrine worship hall 0.02 km
