富田林寺内町の探訪

Information

Open to the public

Denomination
Shin Shuu School Koushouji Sect.  

Location
Jyounomon suji street and Sakai machi street (Sakai suji street)

About a 15-minute walk from both Tondabayashi Station and Tondabayashi Nishiguchi Station of Kintetsu railway Nagano line.

History (Origin)
During the Ouei period (1394-1412 years) , the incipient temple was opened in Ebitani village. In 1560, Shoushuu Shonin, the 16^th head priest of Koushouji Sect. in Kyoto dismantled the building and reconstructed it to the present location, adjacent to Ebitani village.

Features of the building
The temple gate looks toward the east and the Jyounomon-suji street. Those buildings such as the bell tower, the drum tower, the main hall, the reception hall and priest's quarters are set up and arranged. The main gate has refined style and it became clear in a recent investigation that the gate was further relocated from Koushouji temple in Kyoto, which was originally said to be dismantled and reconstructed from one of the gates at Fushimi castle in Kyoto.  

Temple Gate (Important Cultural Property)
It has a Yakui-mon style structure. The gate was re-relocated from the north gate of Koushouji temple in Kyoto, that had been handed down from one of the gates of Fushimi Castle. The scale of the gate is larger than average one of temple and it is said to ensure a height that warriors could pass across on the horse. The main street of the town in front of the gate is called Jyounomon-suji street, which was literally named after the castle gate.

It was said that the gate might have been re-relocated through the old Tenma Betsuin temple from Fushimi Castle, but the comprehensive survey on Koushouji Betsuin Temple conducted in 2012 has confirmed by historical records that the gate was re -relocated to Koushouji Betsuin Temple in 1857 from north gate of Koushouji Temple in Kyoto which was said to be a gate of Fushimi Castle. The academic findings were published in September 2012 as the comprehensive research report on Koushouji Betsuin Temple (not for sale).

Amebuta-kawara
Decorative tile that lies at the corner of the roof, covering the junction of the roof tiles.. The decoration of animals can be often seen. It is also called Tomebuta Kawara.

Main Hall（Important Cultural Property）
reconstructed in 1638

The main hall is the oldest building among those of the Jodo Shinshu sect. temples in Osaka Prefecture. Main hall was used as a small private school in the Edo era and it is the predecessor of Tondabayashi Elementary School today. Before World War II, the elementary students visited the temple to celebrate the foundation festival of the temple and candy was handed out to children on the occasion, while many stalls were open on the street in front of the temple. During World War II, there was a record that the temple accepted students of Hirano Elementary School in Osaka to live in the temple as school evacuation of the war fire.  

Taimen-sho (Important Cultural Property) Taimen-sho is a dedicated meeting room for royal family, built in 1856 in the late Edo period, adjacent to the main hall on its north side. The front entrance has Shikidai , or step in a Japanese entranceway, as well as Karahafu style gable. Okuzasiki or the main guest room has the Jodan no ma (a raised floor level) that is a one-step higher floor from the tatami floor, and has a function and prestige of the meeting place even small in scale.  

Memorial monument of Shoushuu Shounin
Next to the main hall, there is a memorial monument of Shoushuu Shounin, who was  the 16^th head priest of Koushouji temple in Kyoto and the founder of Koushouji Betsuin temple (Tondabayashi Gobo). Built in 1896. Given the history is that Tondabayashi Jinaimachi town was established around Koushouji Betsuin Temple and it has prospered as an economic center of Minami-Kawachi region after that, Shoushuu Shounin could be called as father of exploitation of Tondabayashi.

Onarimon (Important Cultural Property)
The small annexed gate next to the temple gate. Chrysanthemum crest has been decorated in Onarimon (gate for Imperial envoy).  The gate was relocated in the late Edo period. It is a highly decorative gate even small in scale and the building age dates back to the mid-Edo period, but unknown where it had been originally located. It is believed to have been relocated to the current location at the same time when main temple gate was relocated from Koushouji Temple in Kyoto in 1857.

Though there is the record Crown Prince Hirohito (the Showa Emperor) visited ruins of Akasaka Castle in 1917, the birthplace of Kusunoki Msashige, but it is unclear whether he also visited Koushouji Betsuin Temple on this occasion.

Bell tower (Important Cultural Property)
Built in 1810, the building was located in the southeast corner of the precinct. The tower of tetrahedral has no walls and the bell have been suspended in the center. Bell has been rung on such occasions as Spring Festival (Foundation Festival to celebrate  Shoushuu Shounin) , Autumn Festival (Gratitude Lecture to celebrate Shinran Shounin) and the bell on New Year's Eve., too.

Drum Tower (Important Cultural Property)
Built in the late 18th century, older than the bell tower, it has been relocated to the northeast corner of the precincts in 1810. It is a two-story storehouse building with thick earthen walls. The windows of the second floor is characterized as Katomado style.

The site-seeing map available in English
Please stop by to the Tourist Information Cetnter or Jinaimachi Visitor Center. You can get the visitor map.

Visitor Center
(Jinaimachi Kouryuukan,
Town Community Center)

Address
9-29, Tondabayashi-cho, Tondabayashi city, Osaka, 584-0033, Japan
TEL.+81-(0)721-26-0110
FAX.+81-(0)721-26-0110
open 10a.m. until 5 p.m.
closed on Monday

Restrooms
Available at Jinaimachi Visitor Center (Jinaimachi Kouryuukan), Jinaimachi Center and Jinaimachi Tenbou Hiroba (Viewing Terrace)

Visitor Parking
Road width is very narrow in Jinaimachi town. If traveling by car, please use Tondabayashi Municipal east parking newly opened in February 2014 (Toll parking).

You can park the minibus for groups and passenger cars for general use. Only one parking lot available for minibus, you must book it in advance with Tondabayashi City Hall. A 15-minute walk to the Jinaimachi Visitor Center and 5 minute walk up to the former Sugiyama family house, an important national cultural property.

You will note that the large tourist bus for groups is requested to be parked at the Tondabayashi City Hall No. 2 parking lot alongside the old Route 170  (It must be booked in advance to City Hall). 20-minute walk to the Jinaimachi Visitor Center and 10 minute walk up to the former Sugiyama family house, an important national cultural property. Thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

Shops & restaurants

Town Planning

Jyounomonsuji street "the 100 selections of roads in Japan"

Koushouji Betsuin Buddhist Temple

Former Sugiyama residence

Nakamura residence

Former Tanaka residence

Architecture Vol. 1/2

Architecture Vol. 2/2

Roof ・Roof tiles

Mushikomado

Koushimado

Storehouse（Kura）

Kemuridashi

Shokisan

Sodeudatsu

Historic Buildings

Jinaimachi cookies

New Year Hot Pot Festival

Spring Hina Meguri Dolls Festival

Summer Street Lantern Festival

Autumn Nochino Hina Matsuri Doll Festival

Art Gallery

B&B (Tomari-Ya Guetshouse)

Travelogues by Author

Link

Ichiriyama-cho street

Tomiyama-cho street

Kita-Kaisho-cho street

Minami-Kaisho-cho street

Sakai-cho street

Gobo-cho street

Hayashi-cho street