Jodo Shinshu Otani-ha Hakodate Betsuin Temple

Overview

Jodo Shinshu Otani-ha Hakodate Betsuin Temple is a Jodo Shinshu temple located in Motomachi, Hakodate City, Hokkaido. It's a branch temple of the Otani-ha sect, with its head temple being the Hongan-ji Temple (Higashi Hongan-ji). It is also known as the "Higashi Hongan-ji Hakodate Betsuin Temple". Its origins trace back to 1641 when Jogen, the sixth head priest of Sennen-ji Temple in Matsumae, built an Amida-do hall (Amida Buddha hall) in Kikonai Village, Kamiiso District, Oshima Province. Later, in 1710, it was relocated to Hakodate (then called Hakodate) in Kameda District. In 1858, by order of the Edo Shogunate, it became Jogen-ji Temple, a branch temple of Hongan-ji. In 1876, it became a branch temple of Hongan-ji, developing as a base for the Jodo Shinshu sect in Hakodate. After the Meiji Great Hakodate Fire of 1907 destroyed its buildings, it was rebuilt based on the design of Heizaemon Ito, the ninth generation of his family. The main hall, with a floor area of 1,115.11 square meters and a frontage of 33 meters, is the oldest temple building in Japan to express the details of Japanese-style architecture in reinforced concrete. It is considered highly valuable in the history of architecture. The main hall, main gate, and bell tower are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. Jodo Shinshu Otani-ha Hakodate Betsuin Temple is a precious place where you can feel the history and culture of Hakodate. It's also a place where you can relax in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. If you visit Hakodate, please be sure to visit.