Temple Spots in Nagano Area

  • Hotokezaki Kannonji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Omachi-shi Tokiwa 6966
    A Buddhist temple, the mountain behind the temple is the location of a cave where the legendary figure Koizumi Taro is said to have hid. The temple's Emado votive tablet hall houses the Senyu Ichibashu Ema, a huge votive tablet which is one of the largest in the Taihoku region. The temple also has a famous red pine designated a Natural Monument by the city. Estimated to be around 250 years old, the broad, conical tree consists of two independent trunks sprouting from the same spot.
  • Fujio Kakuon-ji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Omachi-shi Yasaka Fujio 1625
    "Known to many as the ""Fujio Kannon-sama,"" since ancient times people have come from far and wide to visit this Buddhist temple. The temple's principal object of worship, an 11-headed, thousand-armed Kannon statue, has been designated an Important Cultural Property along with the figures of Dhrtarastra and Vaisravana standing at its sides. The temple's foundation is believed to extend back to the early Heian period; the thousand-armed Kannon statue was gifted in the temple in the late Heian period in 1179. The statue was created using the yosegi-zukuri technique using multiple pieces of wood, a new and novel method at that time."
  • Zenkoji Sesonin Shakado Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Nagano-shi Motoyoshicho 475
    Under the control of the Zenkoji Temple, this Buddhist temple is one of 20 Tendai monk-soldier temples and one of 25 Daikanjin temples built via solicitations. The main temple building has suffered fires 11 times; the current structure was rebuilt in 1707 and the most recent fire was a massive conflagration in 1624. Strongly influenced by the trends of Edo period architecture, its design closely resembles the main shrine complex of the Nikko Toshogu shrine. The temple has been designated a National Important Cultural Property.
  • Tenkyuji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Nagano-shi Shinonoikinebuchi 1000
    The Enmado hall of this famous Buddhist temple enshrines the largest statue of the Buddhist deity Yama. Highlights include a well said to have been used to wash the removed head of Sanada Yukimura, a memorial to those who fell in the battles of Kawanakajima, and a memorial honoring the individual battle between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. The temple's Kawanakajima Gassen Kinenkan museum, dedicated to the Battles of Kawanakajima, contains a collection of over 60 historically valuable items, including Buddhist imagery; arms; and portraits of Takeda Shingen, Sanada Yukimura, and Yamamoto Kansuke.
  • Seisui-ji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Nagano-shi Matsushiromachi Nishijo 147
    A miraculous Buddhist temple which has completely nullified a variety of disasters. Records state the temple was founded by the priest Kanku in 803 and built by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro to pray for victory when he left for his military expedition in Tohoku. The temple is also famous for its 350 year old weeping cherry blossom tree, which comes into bloom in most years around mid-April.
  • Daikanjin Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Nagano-shi Nagano Motoyoshicho 492
    "This Buddhist temple enshrines Japan's oldest mihotoke statue and is one of the country's most well-known sacred sites. The temple's history extends back 1,400 years, having been built on imperial order in 644. Known familiarly to locals as ""Zenkoji-san,"" the temple still sees large number of worshippers today."
  • Shinshuji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Iiyama-shi Minamimachi 22-17
    "This Buddhist temple's history stretches back to the Kamakura period; after repeated changes to its name, denomination, and location, it came to settle in its current location in 1604. The temple served as the model for the Rengeji Temple appearing in Toson Shimazaki's novel ""The Broken Commandment,"" and a monument on the grounds is inscribed with the book's first chapter. The temple complex was damaged during the Great Fire of Iiyama and only the original Rokkakudo hall stands today."
  • Motozenkoji Temple Treasure Hall
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Iida-shi Zakoji 2638 Motozenkoji
    This museum facility displays a collection of more than 80 items, including a sacred mortar, a statue of the Buddha entering Nirvana, kimen carved wooden devil masks said to be the predecessor of onigawara decorative roof ridge-end tiles, a statue of Ragaraja dating to the Fujiwara period, and other Buddhist statues and hanging scrolls. Famous in part for its okaidanmeguri pitch black worship tunnel, the history of the temple dates back to 602. Be sure to stop by the treasure hall when visiting this historic temple.
  • Iida Castle Sakuramaru Gate (Red Gate)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Iida-shi Otemachi 2-678
    This gate has been designated a Tangible Cultural Property by Iida City. Painted red with iron oxide, it is known as the Red Gate. Special gates such as this one were only permitted at Goshuden residences, the title given to the residences of the daughters of the Tokugawa shogun clan who married a daimyo lord; as they were not allowed to be replaced if they were destroyed due to fire or other causes, very few still stand in Japan today.
  • Hakushin-ji
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Iida-shi Minoze 1-2464-1
    This Pure Land Buddhist temple was founded by the great priest Honen in the Kamakura period. The position of head priest of this pedigreed ancient temple has been passed down for 19 generations up to the present day. The graves of several famous personages are also located here, including those of Meiji master painter Hishida Shunso; Taisho and Showa period independent symbolist school poet Hinatsu Konosuke ; and Ouchi Rokuuemon, the official gardenr of the Iida clan.
  • Chikoji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Kiso-gun Okuwamura Tono 1121-1
    A Buddhist temple located in Tono, Okuwa Village, Kiso County, Nagano Prefecture. The temple was founded by the great priest Myoun and built by the samurai Minamoto no Yoshihiro in 937, later being moved to its current location. The temple's Yakushido hall, built in the Kamakura period, has been designated a Nagano Prefecture Treasure, and restoration work on the structure was completed in 2010.
  • Saihoji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Naganoshi Naganonishimachi 1019
    It is said that Honen, the founder of the Jodo sect (the first independent branch of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism) who visited Zenkoji Temple in 1199, founded Saihoji Temple. The temple also has a close connection with Tibet when the 14th Dalai Lama visited in 2010. One of the highlights of which was the eye-opening ceremony to the Great Buddha. In the parking lot is an inscription written about the temple by the haiku poet Kobayashi Issa. It is said that the red Jizo statues (stone image of Kshitigarbha, guardian of children) which are not often found in Japan, protect those people having issues with their in-laws. The red color symbolizes protection against evil and the red statue is enshrined here to protect Zenkoji Temple.
  • Shinkoji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Uedashi Sanadamachiosa 8100
    This temple is in Sanadamachiosa, Ueda City. Kosetsusai Daihakuji Temple is said to have been built in the Muromachi period, and the older brother of Masayuki Sanada (Yukimura Sanada’s father), Nobutsuna Sanada, transferred it to its current location, added several new buildings, and renamed it Daihakuzan Shinkoji Temple. After Nobutsuna’s death, Masayuki declared the area a memorial, and Nobutsuna’s wife’s tomb is still here.
  • Hasedera Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Uedashi Sanadamachiosa 4646
    Located in Sanadamachiosa, Ueda City, this temple was founded as the Sanada family temple by Yukitaka Sanada in 1547. After Yukitaka’s death, Yukimura Sanada’s father, Masayuki Sanada, expanded the temple; it was destroyed by Tokugawa clan after the Siege of Ueda in 1600. It was rebuilt and destroyed twice thereafter, and the current structure was built in 1978. The public Sanada tomb on the temple grounds contains the graves of Yukitaka Sanada and Masayuki Sanada, and some Sanada fans come to pay their respects.
  • Shibu Takayakushi
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Prefecture Shimotakai gun Yamanouchi cho Shigubashi Onsen
    You’ll find this temple in Shibu Onsen, Yamanouchi Town. This is the last stop for visitors traveling to all nine public baths in Shibu Onsen. Bathing in all the springs and ascending the 78 stone steps from the ninth spring, “Shiba Oyu,” is said to ward off danger, promote safe and healthy childbirth, and grant long life and youth, among other benefits.
  • Shoujuan
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Iyamashi Iyama 1871
    This Zen monastery is located in Oaza Iiyama Kamikura, Iiyama City. Dokyo Etan, the son of Yukimura Sanada’s older brother, Nobuyuki Sanada, became a monk when he was young and traveled to many temples in Tohoku and elsewhere. After training, he returned and founded this monastery. His disciple, Hakuin Ekaku, is said to have achieved nirvana here.
  • Kotokuji Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Pref. Kisogunnagisomachi Aduma 605
    This Rinzai Zen temple is in Tsumago-juku, a nationally Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings. National Route 256 runs through the area. Founded in 1500 during the Muromachi period, it is part of Kiso’s Seven Gods of Fortune pilgrimage (Ebisu) and the 21st of the 49 Sacred Chubu Yakushi Sites. It’s on a stone rampart above the main village, so you can see out over all of Tsumago-juku from the precincts. This is great in the fall when the autumn colors along the Kisoji Road are in full swing. The white walls, the impressive hedge, and the venerable weeping cherry tree before the gate, said to be over 250 years old, are all highlights. The temple has also preserved treasures like an antique palanquin, said to be the forerunner of the rickshaw.
  • Mine Take Ji
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Shimoina-gun Matsukawamachi Ikuta 438
  • Kiyomizudera Temple
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Higashichikuma-gun Yamagatamura 7764
  • Kozenji Temple
    rating-image
    4.5
    21 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagano Kiso-gun Kisomachi Fukushima 5659

    We had à beautyfull dat to go to Kozen ji, and we walked from the station to The Kozen ji. First we go to The museum and toen we go to the gradens. Very Nice autum colurs.

Nagano Areas

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Nagano prefecture is an exciting mix of mountains, hot spring monkeys, and preserved Edo history. At the heart of the Japanese Alps, Nagano is one of the country’s most popular destinations, whether in winter for its snow sports and the much-loved Jigokudani Monkey Park or in the warmer months for discovering the undulating hills on foot. For fantastic Edo architecture, head to the Kiso Valley for a 60-kilometer stretch of quaint wooden buildings that marked the Nakasendo route 200 years ago.

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