Reception Hall (Ohiroma)
The Reception Hall dates from 1653 and is the oldest surviving structure at Shokoji Temple. The hall was used for large gatherings, such as ceremonies and meetings. The abbot would have likely met here with imperial envoys and representatives of local daimyo lords. At the far end of the hall, a small room with a raised floor is partially concealed by a fine bamboo screen. This is where visiting nobles would have been seated.
The main room of the Reception Hall is around 225 square meters, which is unusually large for a regional temple. It was expanded to its present size in the eighteenth century, at the height of the temple’s prestige. The seating area was extended with an extra row of tatami mats, and a separate entrance hall (shikidai) was constructed, complete with a waiting room. The Reception Hall and the adjoining Entrance Hall are designated a National Treasure.
