Myorakuji Temple Priests' Quarters at a Glance
Myorakuji Temple Priests' Quarters (明楽寺庫裏, Myōraku-ji Kuri) is the residence and service building of a Shin Buddhist temple in Kinomoto, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, dated to the An'ei era (1772–1781) like the main hall and granted Registered Tangible Cultural Property status on August 7, 2023. It stands northwest of the main hall with its front to the south.
It is a single-storey building under a gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof of pan tiles, entered on the long side. At 278 square metres, it has the second-largest footprint in the precinct after the main hall. A Kuri combines the temple kitchen, the priest's family home and rooms for receiving guests, and this one has worked alongside the main hall in exactly that way.
Why It Was Registered
Myorakuji Temple Priests' Quarters was registered as a building that contributes to the historic landscape of the country. The official commentary points to its heavy timber frame and dignified bearing, and to its role as part of a historic temple ensemble.
The interior splits into north and south bands along the line of the ridge. In the southern band, the west end is a Doma, an earth-floored work area open to the roof so that the beams are on show, and the east end is a suite of three Zashiki reception rooms in a row, fitted with a decorative alcove and a flat built-in writing window. A soaring working space paired with rooms that open into one long hall is just what a temple needs when members gather for a memorial service and must be fed and seated.
What to Look For
From outside, the feature to find is the formal Shikidai entrance set in the centre of the south front. This kind of entrance was reserved for guests of standing, separate from the everyday door, and here it anchors the long, low facade beneath the eaves.
Notice, too, the long straight ridge of the gabled roof. It is modest next to the main hall, but the level line of eaves gives the north side of the grounds a calm edge. The building's position, tucked northwest of the main hall, reads as the private side of a precinct otherwise laid out around hall, gate, towers and repository.
Visiting Myorakuji Temple Priests' Quarters
Myorakuji Temple Priests' Quarters is still part of the temple's living space, and the interior is not open to the public. View the entrance and roofline from a respectful distance within the grounds.
Please do not walk up to the entrance or photograph the residential areas. If you have business with the temple, contact it beforehand. Directions and general visiting conditions are covered on the Myorakuji Temple page.
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Q&A
- When was Myorakuji Temple Priests' Quarters built?
- The Agency for Cultural Affairs dates it to the An'ei era (1772–1781), the same period as the main hall. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on August 7, 2023.
- What is Myorakuji Temple Priests' Quarters used for?
- A kuri serves as temple kitchen, family home for the priest and reception space for guests. This one is a single-storey building of 278 square metres with an earth-floored work area and a row of three reception rooms.
- Can I go inside Myorakuji Temple Priests' Quarters?
- No. It is part of the temple's living space and the interior is not open. The exterior can be seen from the grounds.
- What should I look for at Myorakuji Temple Priests' Quarters?
- The formal shikidai entrance at the centre of the south front, and the stout timber frame that the registration commentary singled out.
- Where is Myorakuji Temple Priests' Quarters within the grounds?
- It stands northwest of the main hall with its front to the south, on your left and toward the back as you enter through the gate.
Basic Information
| Name | Myorakuji Temple Priests' Quarters (明楽寺庫裏) |
|---|---|
| Location | 937 Furumachi and other lots, Kinomoto, Kinomoto-cho, Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2023/8/7 (Reiwa 5) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, single-storey, tiled roof; building area 278 square metres |
| Owner | Myorakuji Temple |
| Public Access | Exterior viewable from the grounds (interior not open) |
References
- Myorakuji Priests' Quarters, Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00014622
- Agency for Cultural Affairs: Council for Cultural Affairs report on new Registered Tangible Cultural Properties (Buildings), March 17, 2023
- https://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/93849401.html
Last verified: 2026.09.27
