KYOTO - A fire destroyed a wooden reception building at a subtemple within the grounds of Kodaiji in Kyoto on August 3, burning about 60 square meters but leaving no one injured and causing no damage to the temple's main buildings or cultural properties.
The blaze broke out at Korin-in, one of Kodaiji's subtemples in the city's Higashiyama Ward. The fire department received a call at around 6:30 p.m. from a person involved in an event at the temple who reported black smoke rising from the western side of the complex.
Forty-one fire engines and other emergency vehicles were dispatched. Firefighters brought the flames largely under control about 40 minutes later, although the fire was not completely extinguished until roughly 12 hours after it began.
The affected wooden building, which served as a reception facility, contained a tea room and was sometimes used for tea ceremony classes and other events. Its tiled roof collapsed, leaving blackened wooden pillars and the internal framework exposed.
No one was inside the building when the fire started, and authorities confirmed that there were no injuries or people trapped at the site. The flames did not spread to nearby structures, despite the large number of wooden buildings and dense vegetation in the surrounding historic district.
The burned facility stands along Nene-no-Michi, a stone-paved tourist route, and is located about 120 meters in a straight line from Kodaiji's main temple buildings. Yasaka Shrine and Kiyomizudera are also nearby, placing the site in one of Kyoto's busiest sightseeing areas.
Police and fire officials began an on-site investigation on the morning of August 4 to determine the cause of the blaze, including whether there was any criminal involvement. A smell of smoke remained around the damaged building the following day.
Kodaiji's main structures and cultural properties were unaffected, allowing the temple to resume normal admission on August 4.
Kodaiji was founded in 1606 by Nene, the wife of warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, to pray for her husband's repose. The temple is one of Kyoto's best-known historical sites, while Nene-no-Michi, named for its association with her, remains a popular route for visitors exploring the Higashiyama district.
Source: FNN
