19 Temples in Kagoshima worth your time

A historic Rinzai Zen temple in Kagoshima housing cultural treasures and the graves of five Shimazu clan lords.

What it is

• A Rinzai school temple founded in 1194 by Honda Sadachika.
• The founding priest was Eisai and it belongs to the Shokoku-ji branch.
• It served as a family temple for the powerful Shimazu clan.
• Reconstructed in 1880 after being destroyed during the Haibutsu Kishaku movement.

What to see

• The Gomyo-sha cemetery containing the graves of five Shimazu lords.
• A designated cultural property statue of the Eleven-faced Thousand-armed Kannon.
• Surviving treasures preserved from the original temple site.
• A portrait of Priest Unzan displayed during specific annual events.

When to go

• Visit on April 8th to see the portrait of Priest Unzan displayed.

Read more about Kannō-ji Temple

Saifukuji is a modern temple in Kagoshima, home to Japan's largest wooden Fudo Myoo statue.

What it is

• A standalone temple in Kagoshima City.
• Mountain name is Eboshizan.
• Established in 1988 as a religious corporation.
• Founded in 1989 by Ikeguchi Ekan.

What to see

• Japan's largest wooden Fudo Myoo statue.
• Fudo Myoo statue created by Tanaka Fumiya.
• Large wooden Benzaiten statue by Matsumoto Myokei.
• Benzaiten statue has a total height of 18.5 meters.

Getting there

• 10-minute drive from Hirakawa Station.
• Hirakawa Station is on the Ibusuki Makurazaki Line.

Address

鹿児島県鹿児島市平川町4850 Map

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Explore the ruins of a historic temple and its unique six-story pagoda.

What it is

• A temple ruin in Kirishima City, Kagoshima Prefecture.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Abolished in the early Meiji period.
• The assumed central area was designated in 1921.

What to see

• A six-story pagoda built in 1142.
• Nio statues.
• Miyatagaoka Tile Kiln Site.
• Artifacts from the site at Kokubu Local Museum.

Getting there

• 12-minute walk from Kokubu Station.
• Kokubu Station is on the JR Nippo Main Line.

Address

鹿児島県霧島市国分中央一丁目23−1794 Map

Read more about Ōsumi Kokubun-ji Temple

Explore Doryuji Temple ruins, a historic Zen site with ancient foundations and artifacts.

What it is

• A Zen temple founded in 1246 by Kimotsuki Kaneaki.
• Rankei Doryu was the founding priest.
• Abolished in 1869 due to Haibutsu kishaku.

What to see

• Temple ruins include foundation stones, lanterns, and gravestones.
• The ruins were designated a cultural property in 1971.
• A brocade curtain from the temple is displayed at a local museum.
• The curtain was donated by Princess Anan, wife of the founder.

Address

鹿児島県肝属郡肝付町新富7944-1 Map

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Explore 8th-century temple ruins, a National Historic Site, revealing Japan's ancient provincial temple system.

What it is

• A temple ruin, once a provincial temple.
• Ordered by Emperor Shomu in the 8th century.
• Rebuilt in the Edo period after being burned.
• Abolished in 1869 due to Haibutsu kishaku.

What to see

• Excavated foundations of an 8th-century temple.
• Pagoda remains, designated a National Historic Site.
• A 1.5-hectare park developed around the ruins.
• Evidence of a smaller temple complex.

Read more about Satsuma Kokubun-ji Remains

Historic Rinzai temple with significant cultural properties, offering a glimpse into Japan's past.

What it is

• A Rinzai sect temple.
• Founded in 1340 by Yorinaka Nirei.
• Established with Gyokuzan Gentei as its founder.
• Restored in 1879 after abolition.

What to see

• Sixteen Rakan painting, a cultural property.
• Niō statue, a cultural property.
• Imperial letter from Emperor Go-Kashiwabara.
• Song Dynasty edition of the Daihannya Sutra.
• Writings by Zen Master Gyokuzan.

Address

鹿児島県志布志市志布志町志布志二丁目1番19号 Map

Read more about Daiji-ji Temple

Homanji is a historic temple site in Kagoshima, known for its restored garden and ancient graves.

What it is

• A historic Ritsu sect temple site.
• Designated a Kagoshima Prefecture historic site.
• Rebuilt in 1316 by Shinsen Eiki.
• Abolished in 1869 due to Haibutsu Kishaku.

What to see

• Current Kannon-do, rebuilt in 1936.
• A pond and Nio statues remain.
• Graves of priests are on site.
• Restored garden in Muromachi period style.
• Haiku monument of Taneda Santoka.

Address

鹿児島県志布志市志布志町 Map

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Explore ancient temple ruins and impressive statues, offering a glimpse into Japan's past.

What it is

• Former Shingon sect temple, established in 1200.
• Founded by the Kawabe clan as their family temple.
• Destroyed by fire in 1707, abolished in 1869.

What to see

• Fudo-do hall stands on the former temple site.
• Two Kongo Rikishi Nio statues stand nearby.
• Stone temple gates and stone steps remain.
• Foundation stones mark former buildings.

Address

鹿児島県南九州市川辺町清水２９７９ Map

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Hongan-ji Kagoshima-betsu-in is a Jodo Shinshu temple with a unique titanium-roofed main hall.

What it is

• A Jodo Shinshu Honganji-ha temple.
• Known locally as Nishi Honganji.
• Supervises other Honganji-ha temples in the prefecture.

What to see

• The main hall, currently the 4th generation.
• Main hall has titanium roof tiles.
• Main hall can accommodate 400 people.
• A bell tower.
• A Sanmon gate.
• A stone called Namidaishi on the grounds.

Address

鹿児島県鹿児島市東千石町21-38 Map

Read more about Hongan-ji Kagoshima-betsu-in Temple

This historic Tendai temple is the birthplace of Satsuma Biwa and a site of cultural heritage.

What it is

• A Tendai sect temple, founded by Shimazu Tadahisa.
• Origin place of the Satsuma Biwa musical tradition.
• Historically served as a temple for visually impaired monks.

What to see

• A Buddha hall and graves remain from the sub-temple.
• The Buddha hall and grounds are a historic site.
• Myoon Junigaku is a designated cultural property.

Address

鹿児島県日置市吹上町田尻 Map

Read more about Nakashima Jōraku-in Temple

Fudankō-in Temple is a historic Jōdo-shū temple with a significant past.

What it is

• A Jōdo-shū Chinzei-ha temple.
• Founded in 1562 by Shimazu Takahisa.
• Seiyo from Kyoto Fudankō-in was the founder.
• Rebuilt in 1818 by Shimazu Shigehide.

What to see

• The main hall, completed in 1960.
• The bell tower gate, completed in 1987.
• The parishioners' hall, completed in 1987.
• The grave of Yakumaru Kanenari.

Address

鹿児島県鹿児島市易居町1-10 Map

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Yoneyama Yakushi is a historic shrine dedicated to healing, rebuilt after destruction.

What it is

• A Buddhist hall founded in the 15th century by Shimazu Morioki.
• It enshrined Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha.
• One of the three Yakushi of the historic Satsuma Domain.
• Now officially known as Yoneyama Shrine.

What to see

• A Yakushi Nyorai statue enshrined in 1952.
• Located on a small hill next to the Beppu River.

Read more about Yoneyama Yakushi Temple

Explore the historic grounds of a significant Rinzai temple, now a cemetery, reflecting centuries of history.

What it is

• A Rinzai sect temple, founded in 1363.
• Originally named Kojō-zan Enshō-ji.
• Renamed Taitei-zan Kōsai-ji.
• Known as a 'Gakumon-ji' or study temple.

What to see

• Site of a large temple with seven main buildings.
• Main image was a seated Shaka Nyorai statue.
• Now a cemetery after its abolition.

Read more about Kōsai-ji Temple

Myōen-ji Temple is a historic Zen temple, rebuilt after destruction, with a 600-year legacy.

What it is

• Sōtō Zen temple in Hioki City, Kagoshima Prefecture.
• Founded in 1390 by Ishiya Shinryō.
• Established to mourn the daughter of Ōuchi Yoshihiro.
• Family temple of Sengoku daimyo Shimazu Yoshihiro.

What to see

• Temple with a history of over 600 years.
• Rebuilt in 1880 near its former site.

Address

鹿児島県日置市伊集院町徳重521番地 Map

Official site

myoenji.jp

Read more about Myōen-ji Temple

Explore the historic site of a once-grand Zen temple, significant for its scale and imperial connections.

What it is

• A large Sōtō Zen temple, founded in 1394.
• Family temple of the powerful Shimazu clan lords.
• Became an imperial prayer temple in 1546.
• Abolished in 1869 due to anti-Buddhist movement.

What to see

• Site of a temple that housed 1,500 monks.
• Designated national historic site.

Read more about Fukushō-ji

Ichijoin is a historic temple site with remnants of its past, offering a glimpse into Buddhist history.

What it is

• A Shingon Buddhist temple.
• Founded by the Baekje monk Nira.
• Existed clearly from the Nanboku-chō period.
• A Kagoshima Prefecture designated historic site.

What to see

• Nio stone statues remain.
• Graves of successive abbots remain.
• Excavations found many Chinese ceramics.

Read more about Ichijō-in Temple

Taihei-ji Temple is a historic Shingon temple, rebuilt after destruction, known for its significant past.

What it is

• It is a Shingon sect temple.
• Its formal name is Io-zan Shochi-in Taihei-ji.
• The principal image is Yakushi Nyorai.
• The temple was founded in Wado 1.

What to see

• Ashikaga Tadayoshi built a Rishoto here.
• The current buildings were rebuilt in 1923.

Address

鹿児島県薩摩川内市大小路町48-37 Map

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Nanshū-ji Temple: a historic Rinzai Zen temple with important graves and cultural properties.

What it is

• Rinzai Zen temple, Shōkoku-ji school.
• Established October 1876 by Ogino Dokuen.
• Built as Shōkoku-ji Kagoshima Betsuin.
• Saigō Takamori is the kanjō kaiki.

What to see

• Grave of Gesshō.
• Fudō Myōō statue, a cultural property.

Address

鹿児島県鹿児島市南林寺町23-22 Map

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Jōkōmyō-ji Temple is a historic Jishu temple, rebuilt after destruction, with a significant past.

What it is

• A Jishu sect temple.
• Founded by Shimazu Tadahisa for Sen'a.
• Re-established in 1883.

What to see

• Site of Horin-an.
• Former burial site for Saigo's army.

Address

鹿児島県鹿児島市上竜尾町2-1 Map

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