Daishoin: Onarimon Gate 大聖院：御成門

Official explanation

An onarimon is a gate for the exclusive use of high-ranking individuals such as a shogun or an emperor. Onarimon were built at important temples and at the estates of distinguished noblemen, and were generally opened only on the occasion of a stately appointment. The original Onarimon at Daishoin was constructed for a visit by Emperor Meiji (1852–1912) in 1885. Daishoin was chosen as the monarch’s temporary residence when he visited the island because it was the only structure on Miyajima with a jodan no ma—an “upper-level” room with a raised platform. This arrangement was chosen to ensure that the emperor’s quarters were on a higher level than those of his entourage. The gate was used by Emperor Meiji during his 1885 visit, but it burned down in a fire two years later. The current version was built in 1914, and no emperor has ever passed through it. It is now kept open for all who visit Daishoin, regardless of their status.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.