Zenkoji Temple

Zenkoji Temple - main photo

Zenkoji Temple (Photo: Tomio344456 / CC BY-SA 4.0)

Overview

Static map of (36.660129, 138.1875996)

Address

491 Naganomotoyoshichō, Nagano, 380-0851
( Map ) ( Directions )

Hours

9:00 - 16:00 Open now

Opening Hours

  • Monday

    9:00 - 16:00

  • Tuesday

    9:00 - 16:00

  • Wednesday

    9:00 - 16:00

  • Thursday

    9:00 - 16:00

  • Friday

    9:00 - 16:00

  • Saturday

    9:00 - 16:00

  • Sunday

    9:00 - 16:00

  • Holidays

    9:00 - 16:00

Price

Free

Phone

026-234-3591

Website

zenkoji.jp

Highlights

Niomon Gate

A journey to Zenkoji will start to the south, with visitors passing several temple lodgings (shukubo) to reveal the outer Niomon Gate, flanked by a pair of Niō Guardians. Following a path that includes several guardian Jizo Bodhisattva, visitors will then reach the main Sanmon Gate, which dates back to 1750, and the central temple area.

Hondo

The two-storey main hall (Hondo) is a designated National Treasure, constructed from almost 60,000 lengths of wood with a roof made of cypress bark. It is vastly decorated with many Buddhist statues housed there, including a wooden statue of Binzuru.

Inner Chamber

Visitors can pay a small fee of 500 yen and remove their shoes to enter the inner chamber, where beside the main altar they can descend a narrow staircase into an underground passage. Here visitors are on a quest to find the 'key to paradise'. While walking through the passageway in complete darkness, a metal key is secretly hidden on the right-hand wall and it is said those who are able to touch it will gain enlightenment.

General Amenities

  • Information Counter
  • Free guides/pamphlets
  • Shops

Access

Fifteen minute bus ride (#1) from JR Nagano Station, followed by a 5 minute walk.

Zenkoji Temple