20 Temples in Gunma worth your time

A Jodo Shu temple in Takasaki housing the historic grave of Tokugawa Tadanaga, the third shogun's younger brother.

What it is

• A Jodo Shu Buddhist temple founded by Naito Masatoki during the late Sengoku period.
• The temple moved from Minowa Castle to Takasaki alongside the lord Ii Naomasa.
• It serves as the burial site for Tokugawa Tadanaga, brother of the third shogun.
• The grounds contain designated historical sites and important cultural properties of Takasaki City.

What to see

• The gravestone of Tokugawa Tadanaga erected in 1675 following his ritual suicide.
• The grave of Shuzui Hikosaburo, which is a designated important cultural property.
• Historical markers designating the site as a significant local heritage location.

Getting there

• The temple is located an eight-minute walk from Takasaki Station.

Read more about Daishin-ji Temple

A historic Obaku Zen temple in Gunma founded by priest Gyoki, known for its massive protected cedar and shogun connections.

What it is

• An Obaku Zen temple in Nanmoku founded by the priest Gyoki during the Nara period.
• The site originated as a small hut built to house a Fudomyoo statue.
• Restored in 1675 by Chion Dokai, a priest followed by Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi.
• Formerly a major religious center that managed two hundred branch temples.

What to see

• A large cedar tree designated as a Gunma Prefecture natural monument.
• The temple grounds known locally as the Okunoin of Joshu.
• Historic architecture associated with its nickname Yakuyoke Fudo.

Getting there

• The site is a twenty-five minute drive from the Shimonita Interchange.

Read more about Fudō-ji Temple

A historic Jodo sect temple founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1611, famous for its association with childcare and ancestral history.

What it is

• A Jodo sect temple founded in 1611 by Tokugawa Ieyasu.
• The site honors Nitta Yoshishige, an ancestor of the Tokugawa clan.
• Commonly known as Kosodate Donryu after its founding abbot Donryu Shonin.
• A designated station on the Gunma Shichifukujin pilgrimage route.

What to see

• The Kisshomon main gate, which is a city-designated cultural property.
• A statue of Amida Nyorai housed within the main hall.
• The Kaizando hall, rebuilt in 1934 as a reinforced concrete structure.
• The graves of Nitta Yoshishige and the abbot Donryu Shonin.

Getting there

• Located a 20-minute walk from Ota Station.

Read more about Daikō-in Temple

A Soto Zen temple in Takasaki housing the grave and artifacts of the prominent Edo-period official Oguri Tadasumi.

What it is

• A Soto Zen temple located in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture.
• The temple was officially founded in 1633.
• Restored during the mid-Edo period by Hatamoto Oguri Masanobu.
• The retirement home and final resting place of Oguri Tadasumi.

What to see

• The grave of Oguri Tadasumi, a designated Gunma Prefectural Historic Site.
• The Oguri Public Artifacts Hall, currently being renovated into a memorial museum.
• Two local sites designated as Takasaki City Historic Sites.

Getting there

• The temple is a forty-three minute drive from the Maebashi Interchange.

Read more about Tōzen-ji Temple

A Soto Zen temple housing a 13th-century stone Fudo Myoo statue designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

What it is

• A Soto Zen temple officially established in 1944 in Shibukawa.
• Dedicated to a stone statue of Fudo Myoo commissioned in 1251.
• Locally known by the name Miyata no Fudo-sama.
• The original temple buildings were destroyed during the Meiji era.

What to see

• A 166-centimeter stone statue designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
• A stone lantern from 1443 recognized as a city cultural property.
• Miyata Shrine located directly north of the temple grounds.

When to go

• The stone statue is publicly displayed every year on January 28.

Read more about Fudō-ji Temple

An Edo-period temple in Maebashi featuring a historic mountain gate and the designated burial site of the Makino clan.

What it is

• A Jodo Shu Buddhist temple dedicated to the deity Amida Nyorai.
• Established as the family temple for the local lord Makino Yasunari.
• Authorized by Tokugawa Ieyasu to use the prestigious hollyhock crest since 1604.
• Occupies the former site of the Ogo clan residence near Ogo Castle ruins.

What to see

• A mountain gate preserved from the early Edo period.
• The Makino family cemetery, a designated historic site of Maebashi City.
• The grave of the temple founder and local lord Makino Yasunari.
• Remains of defensive moats and earthworks located on the temple grounds.

Read more about Yōrin-ji Temple

A 16th-century Soto Zen temple in Tatebayashi featuring a historic Kannon-do hall and ancient burial mound on its grounds.

What it is

• A Soto Zen Buddhist temple founded by Akai Ienori in 1523.
• The temple honors the memory of Akai Nobuie.
• The Kannon-do hall was established by Muso Soseki between 1345 and 1350.
• The site contains the grave of Sakakibara Tadatsugu's mother.

What to see

• The Kannon-do hall which predates the main temple buildings.
• City-designated historic sites including a grave and stone lanterns.
• The Sannoyama Burial Mound located within the temple grounds.

Getting there

• The temple is a fifteen-minute walk from the bus stop.

Read more about Zenchō-ji Temple

A 17th-century Zen temple in Isesaki featuring the historic burial grounds and cultural treasures of the Inagaki clan.

What it is

• A Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple founded in 1603 by Inagaki Nagashige.
• The official family temple for the Inagaki clan.
• A site housing the graves of successive heads of the Inagaki family.

What to see

• A temple pagoda designated as a Gunma Prefecture Important Cultural Property.
• Portraits of Inagaki Nagashige and Shigemune held as city cultural properties.
• The Inagaki family graves which are designated city historical sites.

Getting there

• The temple is a 17-minute walk from Shin-Isesaki Station.

Read more about Tenzō-ji Temple

Genkeiji is a Soto Zen temple founded in 1590, notable for its historic stone Buddha and clan cemetery.

What it is

• Soto Zen Buddhist temple.
• Founded in 1590 by Akimoto Nagatomo.
• Established to mourn Nagatomo's father, Kageaki.

What to see

• Stone Buddha from 1421, a cultural property.
• Main hall with a munafuda from 1677.
• Main hall's katomado retain original appearance.
• Akimoto clan cemetery, a designated historic site.
• Cemetery contains three graves, including Akimoto Kageaki's.
• Stone Jizo Bodhisattva statue, a cultural property.

Getting there

• 13-minute walk from Gumma-Sōja Station.

Address

群馬県前橋市総社町植野150 Map

Read more about Genkei-ji Temple

Minakami-dera Temple is a Shingon Buddhist temple known for its significant Fudō Myōō statue and prayers.

What it is

• A Shingon-shu Chizan-ha Buddhist temple.
• Also known as Naritasan Minakami-dera.
• Founded by Shozabata Terukiyo Osho.
• Known for prayers for good fortune and warding off evil.

What to see

• The main deity: Dainichi Daishō Fudō Myōō seated statue.
• One of Japan's three great Fudō statues.
• The current main hall, completed in 1960.
• The Kongokai Taizokai Ryobu Mandara.
• A sacred sword.

When to go

• Attend the spring grand festival.
• Attend the autumn grand festival.

Address

群馬県利根郡みなかみ町湯原340 Map

Read more about Minakami-dera Temple

A Shingon Buddhist temple founded in 1579, featuring a modern main hall and a historic crest design.

What it is

• A temple of the Buzan school of Shingon Buddhism.
• Founded in 1579 by the priest Hoin Kangen.
• Formerly served as the administrator of the nearby Nogi Shrine.
• The current main hall was rebuilt in 1979 after previous fires.

What to see

• The main hall reconstructed in the late twentieth century.
• The temple crest featuring the traditional Kikusui water and chrysanthemum design.

Getting there

• Located a two minute walk from the Hanezukicho Higashi bus stop.

Read more about Hōshū-ji Temple

A historic Shinshu Otani-ha temple in Tatebayashi City featuring the grave of a famous ukiyo-e artist and Shogunate history.

What it is

• A Shinshu Otani-ha temple originally founded in Hazuke Village as Ganjyo-ji.
• The founder was a descendant of the Kamakura period retainer Moritsuna Sasaki.
• The temple moved to its current location between 1661 and 1681.
• Shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi granted the temple a thirty koku land area.

What to see

• The grave of ukiyo-e artist Kitao Shigemitsu, a city-designated historic site.

Getting there

• The temple is a three-minute walk from Tatebayashi Station.

Official site

kakuouji2410.la.coocan.jp

Read more about Kakuō-ji Temple

Explore the family temple of the Oda clan, featuring historic graves and cultural properties.

What it is

• A Rinzai sect Myōshin-ji school temple.
• Founded by Oda Nobuhisa, lord of the Obata Domain.
• Became the Oda clan's family temple.
• Ancestors' graves from Oda Nobukatsu onward were moved here.

What to see

• Oda clan's ancestral graveyard, now preserved.
• A mausoleum covers the gravestones.
• The surrounding Oda Kō Park.
• A stone monument, an important cultural property.
• A stone seated Kannon statue, an important cultural property.
• Oda clan memorial tablets, important cultural properties.

Address

群馬県甘楽郡甘楽町小幡1408 Map

Read more about Sōfuku-ji Temple

Sogenji is a historic Soto Zen temple in Gunma, known for its unique Sazae-do hall and hydrangea.

What it is

• Soto Zen temple in Ota City, Gunma Prefecture.
• Founded in 1187 by Nitta Yoshishige.
• Main hall built around 1793 by Machida Hyobu Eisei.
• One of Japan's three Sazae-do structures.

What to see

• Main hall, known as Sazae-do.
• Interior of Sazae-do has 100 Kannon statues.
• Sazae-do allows clockwise pilgrimage inside.
• Grounds feature 100 hydrangea bushes.
• Sazae-do is a National Important Cultural Property.

When to go

• Known as Gunma's Hydrangea Temple.

Address

群馬県太田市東今泉町165 Map

Read more about Sōgen-ji Temple

A 14th-century temple and historic site with moats, earthworks, and an exorcism fair.

What it is

• A Shingon sect temple, formally Rurizan Myokoin Shomyoji.
• Built in the early 14th century on a historic residence site.
• Also known as Sorimachi Yakata-ato, a National Historic Site.
• Believed to be the residence of Nitta Yoshisada.

What to see

• Moats and earthworks around the temple.
• Cherry trees and wisteria trellises on the grounds.
• Site of a Sengoku period castle with triple moats.

When to go

• January 4th for the annual exorcism fair.

Address

群馬県太田市新田反町町896 Map

Official site

www.sorimachiyakushi.or.jp

Read more about Sorimachi Yakushi

Koon-ji Temple is a historic Koyasan Shingon temple with important cultural properties.

What it is

• A Koyasan Shingon sect temple.
• Buddha's ashes were enshrined in 603.
• Kukai re-established the temple in 814.
• Emperor Go-Daigo rebuilt the temple in 1321.

What to see

• The current main hall, built in 1883.
• National Important Cultural Property: Bronze Five-Type Bells.
• Prefectural Important Cultural Property: Amida Sanzon statue.
• Jizo Bosatsu image stone tablet from 1271.
• Temple bell created in 1703.
• Nagaya-mon gate, a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

Read more about Koon-ji Temple (Gunma)

Shogaku-ji Temple, founded in 1406, holds historical graves and cultural properties worth seeing.

What it is

• Jodo sect Buddhist temple, founded in 1406.
• Komatsu-hime, wife of Sanada Nobuyuki, is considered its founder.
• Main image is Amida Nyorai.
• Holds graves of Komatsu-hime and Kume Tamenosuke.

What to see

• Grave of Komatsu-hime, a designated cultural property.
• Temple gate, a designated cultural property.
• Jizo Juo-zu, a designated cultural property.
• White wisteria, one of Numata's 100 Famous Trees.
• Japanese umbrella pine, a designated natural monument.

Address

群馬県沼田市鍛冶町938 Map

Read more about Shogaku-ji Temple (Numata)

Sankoin is a historic Tendai temple founded in 1324, home to a hidden Kannon statue.

What it is

• A Tendai sect temple.
• Founded in 1324 by the Numata clan.
• Moved with the Numata clan's castles.
• Moved to its current location in 1532.

What to see

• Main deity is an Eleven-faced Kannon.
• Kannon is a hidden Buddha, displayed twice a year.
• Kannon statue is an Important Cultural Property.
• A stone lantern by Sanada Nobutoshi remains.

When to go

• Hidden Kannon displayed on January 1st.
• Hidden Kannon displayed on April 29th.

Address

群馬県沼田市柳町392 Map

Read more about Sankō-in Temple

Onrin-ji Temple, a Rinzai Buddhist temple, offers unique architecture and natural monuments.

What it is

• Rinzai sect Kencho-ji school temple.
• Founded in 1349, re-established in 1395.
• Principal image is Yakushi Rurikō Nyorai.
• Temple crest is Mitsuuroko.

What to see

• Current main hall is in Hojo style.
• Principal image is a hidden Buddha.
• Two designated natural monuments.

When to go

• Hidden Buddha displayed once every 60 years.

Getting there

• About 1 km from Tobu Isesaki Line Tatara Station.

Address

群馬県邑楽郡邑楽町鶉299 Map

Read more about Onrin-ji Temple

Kōgan-ji Temple, founded in 1607, offers historical buildings and a unique stone monument.

What it is

• A Tendai sect temple.
• Formal name is Akimotoyama Kōgetsuin Kōgan-ji.
• Founded in 1607 by Akimoto Nagatomo.
• The principal image is Shaka Nyorai.

What to see

• The main hall, rebuilt in 1820.
• The kuri, rebuilt in 1813.
• A stone monument called Rikiya Iaihi.
• Rikiya Iaihi is a prefectural historic site.
• Many cultural properties designated by Maebashi City.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from Gunma Sōja Station.

Address

群馬県前橋市総社町総社1607 Map

Read more about Kōgan-ji Temple