Video footage provided by Eiheiji temple and Shimizu Corp. shows digital twin images of heritage buildings at Eiheiji temple in Eiheiji, Fukui Prefecture. The technology creates virtual replicas of the structures, allowing viewers to explore the buildings' interiors and exteriors in unparalleled detail from any conceivable angle.

Photo/Illutration A digital twin image of the Sanmon gate at Eiheiji temple in Eiheiji, Fukui Prefecture (Provided by the temple and Shimizu Corp.)

EIHEIJI, Fukui Prefecture—Stunning views of the architectural anatomy of a centuries-old Buddhist temple here have been revealed using the latest technology.

Eiheiji temple released images of its historical buildings on April 25, created in collaboration with major construction contractor Shimizu Corp.

Generated with digital twin technology, these virtual replicas offer an unprecedented perspective of the heritage structures, as if captured by an X-ray machine.

They allow viewers to explore every detail of the buildings, from the attic beams to the columns beneath the floor, from every angle imaginable.

Starting in July, the project team spent three months laser-scanning 19 nationally designated important cultural properties at the temple complex.

The innovative project aims to create a virtual record of the heritage buildings, ensuring their preservation even in the event of a fire or a natural disaster.

Data from the digital twin project can generate precise architectural drawings of the buildings, which will be invaluable for maintaining these cultural treasures, particularly for seismic retrofitting efforts, according to a temple official.

A panel exhibition and video presentation showcasing the highlights of the project will be held at the temple from April 27 to May 6.

Admission is 700 yen ($4.46) for adults and 300 yen for junior high and elementary school students.

Eiheiji temple has suffered from fires on eight occasions since it was founded in 1244 by Zen master Dogen.

During the Edo Period (1603-1867), the temple was ravaged by major fires approximately once every 50 years.

The most recent fire, in 1879, destroyed four buildings, including the Joyoden hall, which was later rebuilt and designated an important cultural property.

Even in this modern age, heritage buildings remain vulnerable to destruction.

In 2016, the Romon gate of Asojinja shrine in Kumamoto Prefecture was destroyed in the Kumamoto Earthquakes. In 2019, the main hall of Shuri-jo Castle in Okinawa Prefecture burned to the ground in a fire.

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