A Gate Said to Come from Hideyoshi's Jurakudai
The Jonenji Temple Front Gate (常念寺表門) is a four-legged gate of the Momoyama period in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and was designated an Important Cultural Property on September 17, 1954 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a four-legged gate with a gabled roof of full tiles and a wicket on each side, designated together with one ridge tag; designation number 01312.
Said to Be a Gate of the Jurakudai
The Jonenji Temple Front Gate is a four-legged gate of the Momoyama period in the grounds of Jonenji in Hagi, Yamaguchi, under a gabled roof of full tiles with a wicket on each side (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Yamaguchi tourism site gives its size as 3.66 by 3.12 metres, with rear posts. Temple tradition holds that it was a back gate of the Jurakudai palace in Kyoto, given by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to Mori Terumoto, who moved it to his Fushimi residence, then to Hagi Castle, from where it came to Jonenji.
Why It Is an Important Cultural Property
The Agency's record has no commentary; the form of a four-legged gate and the ridge tag set out what was designated. Temple tradition links it to the Jurakudai, Fushimi and Hagi Castle (Yamaguchi tourism site).
What to Look For
Look for the gabled roof of full tiles and the wickets on either side (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Jonenji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). The Yamaguchi tourism site gives the access as 15 minutes on foot from Higashi-Hagi Station on the JR San'in Line. No official information on visiting hours was found.
Q&A
- When was the gate built?
- In the Momoyama period (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What type of gate is it?
- A four-legged gate with wickets and a tiled gabled roof.
- Where did it come from?
- Tradition says from the Jurakudai, via Fushimi and Hagi Castle.
- What else is designated with it?
- One ridge tag.
- When was the Jonenji Temple Front Gate designated an Important Cultural Property?
- On September 17, 1954 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Jonenji Temple Front Gate (常念寺表門) |
|---|---|
| Location | Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture |
| Designation | Important Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Designated 1954/09/17 (Showa 29) |
| Quantity | 1 building (with 1 ridge tag) |
| Dimensions | Four-legged gate, gabled, full-tile roof, with 2 wickets |
| Owner | Jonenji Temple |
| Public Access | 15 min on foot from JR Higashi-Hagi Station (Yamaguchi tourism site) |
References
- Jonenji Temple Front Gate (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/102/3216
- Jonenji Front Gate (Yamaguchi tourism site, Japanese)
- https://yamaguchi-tourism.jp/spot/detail_14138.html
Last verified: 2026.10.21