Myozenji Temple Kuri (Priests' Quarters)
temple
明善寺:庫裡
The large gassho-style farmhouse next to the main hall of Myozenji Temple was the temple’s kuri, or residence of the head priest and his family.
The kuri of Myozenji Temple in the village of Ogimachi is a five-story gassho-style farmhouse built in 1817 to house the head priest's family, now open as a museum. Its plastered earthen walls, more fire-resistant than wood, were unusual enough that carpenters from Takayama rather than local craftsmen were hired to build it. The 330-square-meter ground floor includes a living room with a sunken irori fireplace, tatami guest rooms, and family sleeping quarters, while the upper floors were used for silkworm cultivation. The building connects to the temple's main hall via a covered corridor. The attached decorative garden is rare in Shirakawa-go, where the harsh mountain climate makes such features difficult to maintain.
Remove shoes before entering any hall. Look for a shoe rack at the entrance. Carry a plastic bag for your shoes if none is provided.
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