20 Temples in Ishikawa worth your time

Nata-dera Temple, built into natural caves, is a sacred site revered for over 2,000 years.

What it is

• Buddhist temple dedicated to Kannon, bodhisattva of mercy.
• Founded in 717 by the monk Taicho.
• Revered sacred place for over 2,000 years.
• Combines Buddhist, Hakusan mountain worship, Shinto, and nature worship.

What to see

• Natural rock formations, cliffs, and caves.
• Mossy forests, traditional gardens, and carp-filled ponds.
• Intricately carved wooden halls and pagodas.
• Kondo main hall with 7.8-meter-tall Kannon statue.
• Kutani porcelain tiles surrounding the Kannon statue.
• Reception hall (shoin) and its garden (separate fee).

Address

石川県小松市那谷町ユ122 Map

Official site

natadera.com

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A historic Soto Zen temple in Kanazawa founded in 1600 to serve as the Maeda family's spiritual home.

What it is

• A Soto Zen temple in Kanazawa founded by Maeda Toshinaga in 1600
• The family temple for the powerful local lord Maeda Toshiie
• Managed the nearby Noda Mountain Cemetery during the Edo period
• Rebuilt by Hoshun-in after a fire destroyed the original structures in 1616

What to see

• A three-meter stone pagoda dedicated to the memory of Maeda Toshiie
• The family graves of the prominent Shinohara and Murai families
• A portrait of Hoshun-in attributed to the famous artist Hasegawa Tohaku

Official site

www.koutokuzan-tonji9.com

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Agishi Honsei-ji Temple: a historic temple with a great thatched roof and cultural properties.

What it is

• A Jodo Shinshu Otani-ha temple.
• Converted to Shinshu in 1268.
• Became a 'furegashira' in 1610.
• Ancestral tablet place for the Nijo family in 1850.

What to see

• Main hall, gate, bell tower, and drum tower completed in 1792.
• Main hall is one of Japan's three great thatched roofs.
• Main hall is a Prefectural Tangible Cultural Property.
• Agishi Honsei-ji documents are a Prefectural Tangible Cultural Property.
• Agishi Kogiku-zakura is a Prefectural Natural Monument.

Address

石川県輪島市門前町南カ26 Map

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Eikoji Temple is a historic Soto Zen temple founded in 1312, rebuilt by Maeda Toshiie.

What it is

• Soto Zen temple, mountain name Tokokuzan.
• Founded in 1312 by Keizan Jokin.
• Principal image is Shaka Nyorai.
• 13th sacred site of Noto Kannon Pilgrimage.

What to see

• Main hall completed in 1323.
• Risho-to pagoda established in 1339.
• Current buildings are Edo period reconstructions.
• Wooden statues of five patriarchs.
• Keizan Jokin's writings are Important Cultural Properties.

Getting there

• 15-minute drive from JR Hakui Station.

Address

石川県羽咋市酒井町イ11 Map

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Hōjū-ji Temple, founded by Kūkai, offers ancient statues and a unique guardian shrine.

What it is

• A Koyasan Shingon sect temple.
• Founded by Kūkai during the Kōnin era (810-824).
• Principal image is Fudō Myōō.
• Restored in the Kamakura period by Koen.

What to see

• Wooden seated statue of Fudō Myōō is a National Important Cultural Property.
• Hakusan Shrine Honden is a National Important Cultural Property.
• Hakusan Shrine Honden was built as the temple's guardian shrine.
• Wooden Kongō Rikishi statues are city tangible cultural properties.

Address

石川県珠洲市宝立町春日野83-15 Map

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Tentoku-in Temple is a historic Soto Zen temple with cultural properties and a beautiful garden.

What it is

• A Soto Zen Buddhist temple.
• Founded in 1623 by Maeda Toshitsune.
• Named after Toshitsune's wife, Tamahime.

What to see

• Main gate, built in 1693, is a cultural property.
• Garden created during the Showa era.
• Wooden statue of Rahula from the Edo period.
• Wooden statue of Mikaeri Amida from the Edo period.
• Temple bell, made in 1823, is a cultural property.

When to go

• Tamahime Festival is held annually on August 9th.

Address

石川県金沢市小立野4-4-4 Map

Official site

tentokuin.arunke.biz

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This temple, a Soto Zen training center, offers meditation and honors Zen master Keizan.

What it is

• Sojiji Soin is a monastery.
• Founded in 1321 by Zen master Keizan.
• Center of Soto Zen training.
• One of two head temples of the Soto school.

What to see

• Hatto, or Dharma Hall, a wooden building.
• Hatto adorned with gold, Wajima lacquer, transom carvings.
• Carvings depict life and teachings of Keizan.
• Dentoin, the mausoleum of Keizan, is most revered structure.

When to go

• Renovations completed in December 2020.

Address

石川県輪島市門前町門前1-18-1 Map

Official site

noto-soin.jp

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Myōhō-ji Temple: a historic Nichiren-shū temple founded in 1573, with cultural properties.

What it is

• A Nichiren-shū temple in Kanazawa City.
• Founded in 1573 by Enchi-in Myōjō.
• Enchi-in Myōjō was Maeda Toshiie's adopted daughter.

What to see

• Paper-based colored portrait of Enchi-in Myōjō.
• Portrait is an Ishikawa Prefecture cultural property.
• Graves of Naito Ranshu and Arashi Kanja.
• Dodan-tsutsuji behind the main hall.
• Dodan-tsutsuji is a Kanazawa City cultural property.
• Attached Lotus Sutra scrolls from Muromachi period.

Address

石川県金沢市寺町4丁目2番6号 Map

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Fukushō-ji Temple is a historic Jodo Shinshu temple with important cultural properties.

What it is

• Jodo Shinshu Higashi Honganji sect temple.
• Founded by Dōshō in 1494.
• Established as Machino Sōdōjō in Noto Province.
• Its mountain name is Iibayashi-zan.

What to see

• Main hall is a designated cultural property.
• Suzu ware vase is a designated cultural property.
• Painting of Shaka leaving the mountain is a cultural property.

Getting there

• 10-minute drive from Noto Airport.

Address

石川県鳳珠郡能登町字合鹿31‐10 Map

Official site

fukushouji.jp

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Eian-ji is a historic Shingon temple in Kanazawa, home to a rare deity and significant Buddhist art.

What it is

• A Shingon-shu Daigo-ha temple.
• Founded about 550 years ago by Ashikaga Yoshinao.
• The only sacred place for Daishokangi-ten in Hokuriku.

What to see

• Main hall enshrines Amida Nyorai.
• Aizen Myoo statue is one of Japan's largest.
• Hogyoin-to tower contains Buddhist relics.
• Lecture hall has a 100-tatami mat room.

When to go

• Aizen Fire Festival is held in June.

Address

石川県金沢市舘山町キ1-7 Map

Official site

eianji.p-kit.com

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Explore a historic temple district with 37 temples and 2 shrines, preserving a 17th-century town layout.

What it is

• One of three temple groups in Kanazawa.
• Developed between 1615 and 1644.
• Created to monitor the Ikko-shu sect.
• Selected as an Important Preservation District in 2011.

What to see

• The preserved town layout from 1673-1681.
• Thirty-seven temples and two shrines.
• Udasu Shrine, built in 1599, enshrining Maeda Toshiie.
• Toyokuni Shrine, built in 1601, enshrining Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Read more about Utatsuyama Temple Area

Dairen-ji Temple is a historic Jodo-shu temple dedicated to Go-hime, offering unique cultural insights.

What it is

• A Jodo-shu Buddhist temple.
• Founded in 1604 by Hidemasa Kozuka.
• Known as the family temple of Go-hime.
• Protects Go-hime's gorinto tomb in Nodayama.

What to see

• Go-hime's memorial tablet and Kannon statue.
• Memorial towers for Go-hime and Hideie Ukita.
• A relief of Go-hime, unveiled in 1994.
• Memorial monuments for Go-hime and Hideie.
• The current main hall, rebuilt in 1815.

Address

石川県金沢市野町二丁目1番14号 Map

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This 13th-century Nichiren Buddhist temple offers well-preserved 17th-century buildings, including a pagoda.

What it is

• Head temple of Nichiren Buddhism in the Hokuriku region.
• Founded in 1294 by Nichizo, a disciple of Nichiren.
• Built under the patronage of the Maeda family.

What to see

• Sprawling, verdant grounds.
• Five-storied pagoda completed in 1618.
• Buildings constructed in the 1600s.
• Priest's living quarters from 1593, the oldest structure.
• Main hall built by the third Maeda lord.

Address

石川県羽咋市滝谷町ヨ1 Map

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Ryūgo-ji is a historic Zen temple, home to a significant ancient Buddha statue.

What it is

• A Sōtō Zen temple founded in 1394.
• The 25th temple of the Noto Thirty-three Kannon Pilgrimage.
• Known as Kanayasan, its mountain name.
• Considered sacred, connected to the Dragon Palace legend.

What to see

• Main hall houses a wooden seated Yakushi Nyorai statue.
• Statue is 120cm tall, carved from a single cypress tree.
• Heian period statue is a tangible cultural property.

Address

石川県羽咋郡志賀町酒見門前67 Map

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Explore ancient temple ruins and artifacts at this historic park in Noto.

What it is

• A historic park preserving the ruins of a Buddhist temple.
• Originally Daikoji Temple, elevated to Kokubun-ji in 843.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1974.
• Noto Kokubun-ji Park opened in 1992.

What to see

• Temple ruins maintained as a historic park.
• A display hall for excavated artifacts.

Getting there

• Accessible by car from Nanao Station.

Read more about Noto Kokubun-ji Temple

Shogakuin is a historic temple with an important ancient statue, offering a glimpse into Japan's religious past.

What it is

• A Koyasan Shingon sect temple.
• Founded by Taicho.
• Originally a Tendai sect temple.
• Principal image is Dainichi Nyorai.

What to see

• A wooden seated Amitabha Nyorai statue.
• The statue is an Important Cultural Property.
• The statue is from the late Heian period.
• The statue is 101cm tall.

When to go

• Setsubun bean-scattering is on February 3rd.

Address

石川県羽咋市寺家町ト92 Map

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Explore a 15th-century temple site that became a mountain castle and military base.

What it is

• A Jodo Shinshu temple in Kaga Province.
• Predecessor to Johana Betsuin Zentokuji and Korokuji Temple.
• Functioned as a mountain castle during the Sengoku period.
• A military base for the Ikkō-ikki.

What to see

• Flat areas, ponds, and wells found during excavations.
• Defensive structures built over 800 meters.
• Moats, earthworks, and cut cliffs from the late 15th century.

Address

石川県金沢市砂子坂町 Map

Read more about Sukazaka Training Hall

Renjoji Temple is a historic Nichiren temple with a notable gate and statue, worth visiting for its cultural heritage.

What it is

• A Nichiren sect temple in Kanazawa.
• Its mountain name is Fukōzan.
• Founded in 1582 by Nichiju.
• Part of the Utatsuyama temple group.

What to see

• The main gate, a city-designated cultural property.
• The main gate was built in 1845.
• A standing statue of Shaka Nyorai.
• This Shaka Nyorai is one of Kanazawa's four great Buddhas.
• A tombstone for haiku poet Akinobō.

Address

石川県金沢市 Map

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Renkaku-ji is a historic Nichiren-shu temple, home to unique statues and graves of local significance.

What it is

• A Nichiren-shu temple, founded in Kanazawa.
• Known as Tatsumi no Shichimen-san.
• Family temple of Maeda Toshitsune's mother, Jufuku-in.

What to see

• A wooden statue of Shichimen-daimyojin.
• Graves of the Kamiki family.
• Grave of Itaya Hyoshiro, who dug Tatsumi Canal.

When to go

• Hidden image of Shichimen-daimyojin shown every 19 years.

Address

石川県金沢市東山2丁目18-27 Map

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Hokku-ji is a Jodo Shinshu temple offering unique cultural and Buddhist experiences.

What it is

• A Jodo Shinshu Otani-ha Buddhist temple.
• Founded in 1899 by Shinsen Kitakata.

What to see

• Eitaikuyo-bo Shinsen, established in 1997.
• Shinsen Kaikan, expanded in 2003.
• Ceremony Hall Shinsen, built in 2015.
• Shukubo facilities with three rooms.

What to do

• Participate in calligraphy art workshops.
• Join Buddhist experience programs.

Address

石川県金沢市小将町7-10 Map

Official site

hokkuji.wordpress.com

Read more about Hokku-ji Temple