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Home - Religion

Buddhist Temples

basic information

Temples are the places of worship in Japanese Buddhism. Virtually every Japanese municipality has at least one temple, while large cultural centers like Kyoto have several thousands.

Temples store and display sacred Buddhist objects. Some temples used to be monasteries, and some still function as such. Structures typically found at Japanese temples are:

	Main hall The sacred objects of worship, such as statues, are displayed in the main hall. Main halls are called kondo, hondo, butsuden, amidado or hatto in Japanese. Example: Main hall of Todaiji in Nara.
	Lecture hall Lecture halls are for meetings and lectures and often also display objects of worship. Lecture halls are called kodo. Example: Lecture hall of Toji in Kyoto.
	Pagoda The pagoda, a structure that has evolved from the Indian stupa, usually comes with three (sanju no to) or five (goju no to) stories. Pagodas store remains of the Buddha such as a tooth, usually in form of a representation. Example: 3-storied pagoda of Kofukuji in Nara.
	Gates Gates mark the entrance to the temple grounds. There is usually one main gate, and possibly several additional gates, along the temple's main approach. Example: Sanmon Gate of Kenchoji in Kamakura.
	Bell On New Year's Eve, temple bells are rung 108 times, corresponding to the Buddhist concept of 108 worldly desires. Example: Great Bell of Kenchoji in Kamakura.
	Cemetery Most cemeteries in Japan are Buddhist and are located at a temple. The Japanese visit their ancestors' graves on many occasions during the year, especially during the obon week, the equinoctial weeks and anniversaries.

The best cities to visit temples are Kyoto, Nara and Kamakura. One of the best places to overnight at temples is Mount Koya.

List of Famous Temples

Shimokita Peninsula

Osorezan

Sacred mountain resembling Buddhist hell.

Hiraizumi

Motsuji Temple	Temple famous for its Pure Land Garden.
Chusonji Temple	Hiraizumi's most famous temple.
Takkoku no Iwaya	Temple constructed at the foot of a cliff.

Dewa Sanzan

Churenji, Dainichibo

Temples known for Buddhist mummies.

Sendai

Rinnoji Temple

Date family temple with outstanding garden.

Matsushima

Zuiganji Temple	One of Tohoku's most famous Zen temples.
Godaido	Small temple hall and symbol of Matsushima.

Nikko

Rinnoji Temple

Nikko's most important temple.

Ikaho

Mizusawa Temple

Temple famous for udon noodles.

Kawagoe

Kitain Temple

Featuring a former building of Edo Castle.

Narita

Naritasan Temple

Popular temple, not far from Narita Airport.

Tokyo

Sensoji Temple	Large temple in the Asakusa district.
Sengakuji Temple	Site of the 47 ronin's graveyard.
Zojoji Temple	Buddhist temple at the base of Tokyo Tower.

Kamakura

Great Buddha	Large bronze Buddha Statue.
Hasedera Temple	Attractive temple with views over Kamakura.
Kenchoji Temple	Most important Zen temple.
Engakuji Temple	Second most important Zen temple.
Ankokuronji Temple	Temple founded by Nichiren himself.
Zuisenji Temple	Zen temple famous for its gardens.
Myohonji Temple	Temple of the Nichiren sect.
Jufukuji Temple	Third most important Zen temple.
Tokeiji Temple	Former refuge for abused wives.
Jochiji Temple	Fourth most important Zen temple.

Nagano

Zenkoji Temple

Very popular temple of Nagano.

Nagoya

Osu Kannon Temple

Popular temple in central Nagoya.

Gujo

Jionzenji Temple

Zen temple with beautiful garden.

Fukui

Eiheiji Temple

A center of Japanese Zen Buddhism.

Kyoto

Kiyomizudera	Temple famous for its large wooden terrace.
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion)	Temple building covered in gold.
Sanjusangendo	Temple with 1001 human sized statues.
Kokedera	Called moss temple because of its garden.
Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion)	Beautiful temple not actually covered in silver.
Byodoin Temple	Temple with a beautiful Pure Land Garden.
Ohara	Rural area famous for Sanzenin Temple.
Ryoanji Temple	Zen Temple with famous rock garden.
Kodaiji Temple	Built in memory of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Tofukuji Temple	Temple with spectacular autumn leaves.
Hieizan	Mountain temple complex of the Tendai sect.
Ninnaji Temple	Temple turned former imperial residence.
Toji Temple	Large temple with Japan's tallest pagoda.
Tenryuji Temple	Zen Temple in the Arashiyama district.
Daigoji Temple	Famous temple southeast of Kyoto.
Daitokuji Temple	Large Zen temple complex.
Nanzenji Temple	Zen temple with beautiful stone garden.
Chionin Temple	Head temple of the Jodo sect of Buddhism.
Honganji Temples	Head temples of the Shin-Jodo sects.
Takao	Wooded valley with temples north of Kyoto.
Yoshiminedera	Temple on Kyoto's western mountains.
Mampukuji Temple	Headquarters of the Zen Obaku sect.

Osaka

Shitennoji Temple

One of the oldest temples in Japan.

Nara

Todaiji Temple	Large temple with a big Buddha statue.
Horyuji Temple	The world's oldest wooden buildings.
Yakushiji Temple	Large temple in western Nara.
Toshodaiji Temple	Large temple in western Nara.
Kofukuji Temple	Family temple of the Fujiwara Clan.