Hida Kokobun-Ji Temple in the snow

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Hida Kokubun-ji

Takayama


The original buildings of Takayama's oldest temple were constructed in the 8th century, but later destroyed by fire. The oldest of the present buildings dates from the 16th century. The temple's treasure hall houses some Important Cultural Properties, and the courtyard boasts a three-storey pagoda and an impressively gnarled gingko tree believed to be 1200 years old.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Takayama attractions

1. Takayama-jinya

0.3 MILES

These sprawling grounds south of Sanmachi-suji house the only remaining prefectural office building of the Tokugawa shogunate, originally the…

3. Kusakabe Folk Museum

0.33 MILES

This merchant and moneychanger's house, dating from the 1890s, showcases the striking craftsmanship of traditional Takayama carpenters. Inside is a…

4. Takayama Shōwa-kan

0.33 MILES

This nostalgia bonanza from the Shōwa period (1926–89) focuses on 1955 to 1965, a time of great optimism between Japan's postwar malaise and the 1980s…

5. Yoshijima Heritage House

0.35 MILES

Design buffs shouldn't miss Yoshijima-ke, well documented in architectural publications. Lack of ornamentation allows you to focus on the spare lines,…

6. Takayama Museum of History & Art

0.42 MILES

Not to be confused with the Hida Takayama Museum of Art, this free museum is situated around pretty gardens and features 14 themed exhibition rooms…

7. Karakuri Museum

0.46 MILES

On display here are over 300 shishi (lion) masks, instruments and drums related to festival dances. The main draw is the twice-hourly puppet show where…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "japan/central-honshu/takayama/attractions/hida-kokubun-ji/a/poi-sig/485568/356641",
      "destination": "Takayama",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "Japan",
      "city": "Takayama",
      "position": "superzone"
    }