Otsu Betsuin Temple
Otsu Betsuin (大津別院) in Chuo, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, is a branch temple of Higashi Honganji (Shinshu Otani-ha); its main hall of 1649 and its shoin of 1670 were each designated as an Important Cultural Property on June 7, 1961 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Main Hall and Shoin
The main hall, nine bays by ten under a hip-and-gable tiled roof, is counted among the older Shin Buddhist main halls (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The Agency record and the Otsu City board date it to 1649, while the record's commentary gives 1601. According to the city board, its outer sanctuary is wider than the inner, a feature of Shin Buddhist halls.
The shoin stands behind the main hall and has an unusual plan with a raised eight-mat room and an eighteen-mat room with an altar (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Each property is described on its own page.
Visiting
No official information on visiting hours, access or the opening of the shoin was found.
References
- Otsu Betsuin Temple Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/1379
- Otsu Betsuin Temple Shoin (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/1380
- Otsu Betsuin Main Hall (Otsu City multilingual information board)
- https://www.city.otsu.lg.jp/material/files/group/67/23_3_E.pdf
Last verified: 2026.11.12
Basic Information
| Name | Otsu Betsuin Temple |
|---|---|
| Location | Chuo 2-chome, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Owner | Otsu Betsuin Temple |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (2) |
| Coordinates | 35.00698, 135.86648 |
