Name in Japanese: 大通寺
Pronunciation: daitsū ji

The central area of Nagahama is a grid of old streets dating back to before the Edo period. At its heart is a large temple, Daitsū-ji, with a huge wooden gate that looms up at the end of one of the long streets of the old quarter.

The buildings of Daitsū-ji are arranged around a spacious plaza, creating a very grand and imposing impression. From both inside and outside the temple, the highly ornate main gate makes its presence felt. It’s taller than the main hall itself. The main gate is marked with traces of arrows and bullets fired by the forces of the Kyōgoku clan during violence following the Honnō-ji Incident in which Oda Nobunaga perished.

Other buildings include a belfry, other much smaller gates, and a covered bridge. There are pine trees, flowering shrubs, and beautiful pond around the belfry with lotuses. In front of the main hall are a pair of large bronze lanterns. Around their base lion dogs frolic like jolly puppies.

Daitsū-ji is an annex of the Shinshu Ōtani-ha Higashi Hongan-ji temple in Kyōto. Officially, it’s called Daitsū-ji, but it’s also called Nagahama Betsuin. Locally it’s called “Gobō-san”. The origins of the temple go back to when the 12th priest of Hongan-ji Temple opened a dōjō in the former Nagahama Castle to preach Buddhism to local followers of the sect. At that time, it was called Nagahama Midō. At the end of the Azuchi-Momoyama period, Higashi Hongan-ji Temple was built in Kyōto, and four years later, Midō was relocated to its current location and renamed Daitsū-ji. Some of the buildings are thought to have been relocated from Fushimi Momoyama Castle and Nagahama Castle. The Daidokoromon gate to the left side of the main gate came from Nagahama Castle, and it’s marked with arrow holes from Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s assault on the castle. The panels inside the temple rooms are drawn by Kanō Sanraku and Sansetsu, and Maruyama Ōkyo.

Behind the main hall is a garden which is designated as a national scenic spot. The Ganzanken Garden is a dry landscape garden with Mt. Ibuki as a backdrop. The name “Ganzan” means ‘incorporating a mountain’. It’s designed to look like a stream running out from the foothills of Mt. Ibuki. In the garden are many old pines and sweet osmanthus trees.