Zenkoji Temple is a must-see sightseeing spot in Nagano Prefecture. Since being built over 1400 years ago, it’s held a special place in many people’s hearts, for its deep religious importance. The main hall is designated as a National Treasures. Over 6 million pilgrims visit each year.
About Zenkoji Temple
Zenkoji is a temple with various deep religious ties, enough for there to be a popular saying, “Everybody visits Zenkoji once”. The main Buddhist image at the temple is a statue that absolutely must not be seen by the public, the Zenkoji Shiki Amida Sanzonzo Buddha. The statue was transported from India to Japan through the Korean Peninsula in 552, making it the oldest Buddha statue in Japan. No records remain from the early days of Zenkoji Temple, but there are stories of a priest known as ‘The Saint of Zenkoji’, who wandered to all the corners of Japan, spreading the religious teachings of Zenkoji. In an age when most temples were closed to women, the fact that it welcomed them, as well as it being non-denominational, made the temple popular among the common people.
The Sanmon Gate of Zenkoji Temple
While there are many things to see in the spacious temple grounds, such as the Sanmon Gate, the main hall, the Kyozo repository (an Important Cultural Property of Japan), or the Niomon Gate. The first place you should visit is the Sanmon Gate. Just past the temple shops is the gate with its double roof, which has been designated as an Important Cultural Property. The gate was built in 1750. It is 20.34 meters tall, with a 20.4 meters wide entryway, and is the biggest building in Japan made with the ‘Tochibuki’ style of thick roof shingles. You can climb to the 2nd floor, and the view from there is outstanding. You can see the temple and the whole view of Nagano City. The plaque on the front of the gate is said to have 5 doves hidden within the 3 characters of ‘Zenkoji’, and the 1st character is said to look like the face of a cow.
The Main Hall of Zenkoji Temple
The 2nd place we recommend to visit is the Main Hall. The large hall was rebuilt in 1707, with a 24 meters wide front opening, 54 meters in depth, and 29 meters of height, and is an important example of mid-Edo period temple architecture. The double roof is made of cypress shingles. There is a morning blessing ceremony every day, and in the very back of the hall there is a lapis lazuli shrine for the resident deity, dedicated to the founder of the temple, Honda Yoshimitsu. To the right, back in the shadows of the hall, is the entrance to the platform tour (separate fee), during which you can view the ‘Lock of Heaven’ that is directly under the lapis lazuli shrine. They say that if you touch the ‘Lock of Heaven’, you are guaranteed a spot in the afterlife.
Access to Zenkoji Temple
From JR Nagano Station, head to the Zenkoji Temple Bus Rotary, to the bus stop Number 1 (To Zenkoji Temple "善光寺方面行き"), ride the alpico Bus headed to Zenkoji for about 15 minutes, then get off at the ‘Zenkoji Temple Daimon’ (善光寺大門) stop. Walk through the shopping street, where there are many souvenir shops and food stands, and you will reach the temple in about 5 minutes.
Spot Information
- Spot name：Zenkoji Temple (善光寺)
- Street Adress：491 Nagano-ken, Nagano-shi, Motoyoshi-cho, Nagano 〒380-0851
- Access： Refer to Access portion of article
- Wi-Fi : Available
- Language：Official website available in English and Chinese (simplified)
- Ticket：Temple ground entry, platform tour and Zenkoji Temple Historical Document Hall entry, All for One Ticket: 500 yen; Sanmon Gate entry: 500 yen; Kyozo Repository entry: 300 yen; Temple grounds: Free entrance
- Holidays：Open year round
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