Myokoji Yakushido (city-designated important tangible cultural property)

Myokoji Yakushido, which houses a wooden seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai (Healing Buddha), stands on the banks of the Misasa River, which has flooded many times in the past. Due to its severe wear and tear over the years, the Yakushido underwent conservation and repair work in 1993. During the investigation, ink inscriptions were found under the Shumidan (a platform on which Buddhist altars and other items are placed), which revealed that the building was first constructed in 1539. The same ink inscriptions also revealed that major repairs have been carried out twice to date, in 1763 and 1823. As such, buildings that have stood the test of time have undergone several repairs, and there are many examples of modifications being made at these times. In the case of this Yakushido, the upper floor was thatched and the lower floor was covered with kokera (thinly peeled planks of cypress or other wood), but both floors were changed to tiled. The main entrance was changed from a full-fledged Zen-style door to a regular wooden door, and the positions of the entrances on both sides were also changed. In addition, studs (components erected between pillars) were added. These alterations made during the Horeki and Bunsei eras gave the exterior the feel of an Edo period building, but the repairs in 1993 were carried out to restore it to its Muromachi period appearance, the era when it was first built, as much as possible. Beloved by local people, the Yakushido has been protected to this day despite repeated repairs, and after the major repairs in the Heisei era, it will likely continue to be passed down to future generations as one of the few Muromachi period buildings in the city. Date of designation: March 25, 1986. Outline: 8.23m long, 8.23m deep, double-layered, hip-and-gabled, copper-roofed