The Great Hall of Nagahama Gobo
The Daitsuji Temple Great Hall (大通寺広間) is a large hipped-roof reception hall of the early Edo period (1615 to 1660) at Daitsuji, the Nagahama branch temple of the Otani school of Shin Buddhism, at Motohama-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property together with the main hall on March 26, 1915 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a building 21.9 metres by 20.9 metres, single storey, hipped roof covered with both round and pan tiles, owned by the Honganji Betsuin Daitsuji of the Otani school.
A Hall of Nagahama Gobo
According to the Biwako Visitors Bureau, Daitsuji, fondly called Nagahama Gobo, is a branch temple of Higashi Honganji that began as a hall inside the old Nagahama Castle. Its main hall and great hall are said to come from Fushimi Castle, and many of its buildings are national or city cultural properties.
Daitsuji says that its main hall and great hall, said to come from Fushimi Castle, together with their wall paintings and crafts, reveal the splendour of Momoyama culture. The Daitsuji Temple Great Hall is one of its principal buildings.
Value as an Important Cultural Property
The Daitsuji Temple Great Hall was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1915 together with the main hall and the Ganzanken and Rantei. Some 22 metres square, it conveys the scale of a great temple reception hall of the early Edo period (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Daitsuji).
What to Look For
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a nearly square plan, 21.9 by 20.9 metres, under a hipped roof covered with round and pan tiles.
Daitsuji displays some of the furnishings of Princess Sachiyo, seventh daughter of the Hikone lord Ii Naosuke, in its halls. The halls, including the Daitsuji Temple Great Hall, can be visited for a fee from the ticket office to the left of the main hall (Daitsuji).
Visiting
According to Daitsuji, the grounds are open from 8:00 to 17:00 and the halls from 10:00 to 16:30 (last entry 16:00; from 9:00 between February 1 and December 20, 2026). Admission to the halls is charged, cash only, and wheelchair visits to the halls must be booked in advance (0749-62-0054).
The Daitsuji Temple Great Hall forms the cultural properties of Daitsuji with the main hall, the Ganzanken and Rantei, and their gardens. See the group page Daitsuji Temple (Nagahama Betsuin) for all four. The address is 32-9 Motohama-cho, Nagahama City.
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Q&A
- When was the great hall built?
- In the early Edo period, 1615 to 1660 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- How large is it?
- 21.9 metres by 20.9 metres (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Is it linked to Fushimi Castle?
- Like the main hall, it is said to come from Fushimi Castle (Biwako Visitors Bureau, Daitsuji).
- Can visitors go inside?
- Yes, the halls can be visited for a fee from the ticket office beside the main hall (Daitsuji).
- When was the Daitsuji Temple Great Hall designated?
- On March 26, 1915.
Basic Information
| Name | Daitsuji Temple Great Hall (大通寺広間) |
|---|---|
| Location | 32-9 Motohama-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1915/03/26 (Taisho 4) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 21.9 by 20.9 metres, single storey, hipped roof, round and pan tiles |
| Owner | Honganji Betsuin Daitsuji (Otani school) |
| Public Access | Paid admission to the halls, cash only |
References
- Daitsuji Temple Great Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/1402
- Daitsuji Temple Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/1401
- Daitsuji Temple Ganzanken and Rantei (Database of National Cultural Properties)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/102/1403
- Nagahama Betsuin Daitsuji (official website)
- https://www.daitsuji.or.jp/daitsuji/
- Daitsuji (Biwako Visitors Bureau)
- https://www.biwako-visitors.jp/spot/detail/575/
Last verified: 2026.10.11
