Zenkō-ji

Top choice in Nagano Region

LoginSave

Founded in the 7th century, National Treasure Zenkō-ji is home to the revered statue Ikkō-Sanzon, said to be the first Buddhist image to arrive in Japan (AD 552). Not even 37 generations of emperors have seen the image, though millions of visitors flock here to view a copy every seven years during the Gokaichō Matsuri. Zenkō-ji's immense popularity stems partly from its liberal welcoming of pilgrims, regardless of gender, creed or religious belief.

Its chief officiants are both a priest and a priestess. The current building dates from 1707.

Any bus from stop 1 in front of Nagano Station's Zenkō-ji exit will get you to the temple (¥150, about 10 minutes); alight at the Daimon stop. It takes about 30 minutes to walk up Chūō-dōri from the station to the temple.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Togakushi-jinja

    Togakushi-jinja

    7.98 MILES

    Comprising three sub-shrines, Togakushi-Hōkōsha, Togakushi-Chūsha and Togakushi-Okusha, each a few kilometres apart, Togakushi-jinja honours the 1911m…

  • Chihiro Art Museum Azumino

    Chihiro Art Museum Azumino

    25.59 MILES

    This popular art museum showcases the work of Chihiro Iwasaki (1918–74), who became world-renowned while specialising in children's-book illustrations…

  • Hokusai Museum

    Hokusai Museum

    7.54 MILES

    Japan's most famous ukiyo-e (woodblock print) artist, Hokusai, spent his final years in Obuse. There's an audiovisual presentation on his life in the…

  • Togakushi-Okusha

    Togakushi-Okusha

    9.96 MILES

    From Okusha bus stop it's 2km (40 minutes' walk) to Okusha (meaning 'Upper Shrine') – the innermost of the three sub-shrines making up Togakushi-jinja –…

  • Jigokudani Monkey Park

    Jigokudani Monkey Park

    16.08 MILES

    Pleasant in winter when shrouded in snow but less appealing when seasonally bare, Jigokudani Monkey Park is wildly popular. Made famous by the 1992 film…

  • Asama-yama Magma Stone Park

    Asama-yama Magma Stone Park

    24.5 MILES

    Here's your chance to get up close and personal with Asama-yama – so close, you could almost touch it. Formed in 1783 by Asama's last violent eruption,…

  • Utsukushi-ga-hara Open Air Museum

    Utsukushi-ga-hara Open Air Museum

    29.82 MILES

    Atop Utsukushi-ga-hara-kōgen plateau you'll find this seemingly random sculpture garden with some 350 pieces, mostly by Japanese sculptors. The…

  • Dai-ō Wasabi-Nōjo

    Dai-ō Wasabi-Nōjo

    27.13 MILES

    Fancy some wasabi wine or ice cream? This farm, a 15-minute bike ride from JR Hotaka Station, is a must for wasabi-lovers. An English map guides you among…

View more attractions

Nearby Nagano Region attractions

1. Japanese Lamp & Lighting Museum

7.41 MILES

Showcasing lighting through Japanese history, including oil lamps and lanterns, this neat museum will flip the switches of design aficionados.

2. Hokusai Museum

7.54 MILES

Japan's most famous ukiyo-e (woodblock print) artist, Hokusai, spent his final years in Obuse. There's an audiovisual presentation on his life in the…

3. Takai Kōzan Kinenkan

7.54 MILES

Takai Kōzan, woodblock artist Hokusai's friend and patron, was a businessman and an accomplished classical artist specialising in elegant Chinese-style…

4. Togakushi-Hōkōsha

7.89 MILES

Although it's nestled among cedars apparently close to the village, Hōkōsha, the pretty lower sub-shrine of Togakushi-jinja, is reached via 274 ancient,…

5. Togakushi-Chūsha

7.97 MILES

One of the three sub-shrines of Togakushi-jinja, intimate Chūsha, meaning 'middle shrine', is the most accessible, located prominently in the centre of…

6. Togakushi-jinja

7.98 MILES

Comprising three sub-shrines, Togakushi-Hōkōsha, Togakushi-Chūsha and Togakushi-Okusha, each a few kilometres apart, Togakushi-jinja honours the 1911m…

7. Togakushi Folk Museum & Ninja House

8.84 MILES

Above the Okusha bus stop you'll find this museum housing artefacts from a time when local yamabushi (mountain monks) practised what became known as ninpo…

8. Togakushi-Okusha

9.96 MILES

From Okusha bus stop it's 2km (40 minutes' walk) to Okusha (meaning 'Upper Shrine') – the innermost of the three sub-shrines making up Togakushi-jinja –…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "japan/central-honshu/nagano/attractions/zenko-ji/a/poi-sig/1237265/356655",
  "destination": "Nagano-Region",
  "continent": "Asia",
  "country": "Japan",
  "region": "Nagano-Region",
  "position": "superzone"
}