A Main Hall Rebuilt after the Fire of 1928
The Daisenji Temple Main Hall (大山寺本堂) is the main hall of a Tendai temple of 1951 in Daisen, Daisen Town, Saihaku District, Tottori Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on October 27, 2017 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a single-storey timber building with a copper roof and a building area of 251 square metres, altered in 1985; registration number 31-238.
A Hall Rebuilt after Fire
The Daisenji Main Hall is a timber hall five bays across and six deep under a pyramidal copper roof, with a three-bay porch and a cusped gable at the front (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Inside are outer, inner, side and rear sanctuaries, with an altar platform set before the rear sanctuary to form an innermost chamber.
According to Daisen Town tourism material, the hall was originally a Dainichi hall, became the main hall when the temple name Daisenji was restored in 1903, burned in 1928 and was rebuilt in 1951.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency calls it a fine example of modern temple architecture, keeping a medieval plan while adding modern touches such as richly designed carving, and registered it as a model of design.
What to Look For
Look for the cusped gable and three-bay porch at the front and the richly designed carving (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Daisenji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The Amida Hall, main hall and bell tower are introduced together on the Daisenji Temple page. No official information on visiting hours was found.
Q&A
- When was the Daisenji Main Hall built?
- In 1951, with alterations in 1985 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Why was it rebuilt?
- The earlier hall burned in 1928 (Daisen Town).
- What shape is the roof?
- Pyramidal, in copper, with a cusped gable at the front.
- How is the inside arranged?
- Outer, inner, side and rear sanctuaries, with an innermost chamber.
- When was the Daisenji Temple Main Hall registered?
- On October 27, 2017 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Daisenji Temple Main Hall (大山寺本堂) |
|---|---|
| Location | 9 Daisen, Daisen Town, Saihaku District, Tottori Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2017/10/27 (Heisei 29) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Single-storey timber, copper roof, 251 m² |
| Owner | Daisenji Temple |
| Public Access | No official visiting information |
References
- Daisenji Temple Main Hall (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00012019
- A mountain of gods and buddhas (Daisen Town tourism)
- https://www.daisen.jp/user/filer_public/e6/c8/e6c8a1f1-345f-4d84-9664-b3a19c432c66/p4-sinbutu-owasimasu-yama.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.22
