20 Temples in Miyagi worth your time

This park offers walking paths, historic graves, and scenic views of mountains, plains, and Sendai.

What it is

• Temple built in the late seventeenth century.
• Served as the Date family temple until mid-nineteenth century.
• Commissioned by Sendai’s fourth daimyo, Date Tsunamura.
• Located in Dainenjiyama Park.

What to see

• Somon Gate, main gate with tiled, gabled roof.
• Somon Gate is a Tangible Cultural Property of Sendai.
• Graves of several generations of the Date family.
• Observation areas with scenic views of mountains, plains, downtown.
• Sendai Wild Plants Garden with ponds, wetlands, trails.
• Statue garden within the botanical garden.

When to go

• April for cherry trees blooming in front of the gate.
• April for Mizubasho (skunk cabbage) near ponds.
• Early summer for irises in the botanical garden.
• October for kikyo (balloon flowers) in the botanical garden.

Address

宮城県仙台市太白区門前町3番22号 Map

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This temple honors Date Mitsumune, offering a look into the Date family's private life and interests.

What it is

• Small temple next to Zuiganji Temple.
• Founded in 1647.
• Honors Date Mitsumune, grandson of Date Masamune.

What to see

• Rock garden resembling Matsushima Bay islands.
• Stone stairway to Mitsumune’s grave, the Sankeiden.
• Sankeiden is an Important Cultural Property.
• Altar with wooden statue of Mitsumune on horseback.
• Altar paintings show roses, spades, clover, crosses.
• Daihitei, the temple’s main hall, moved from Edo.

When to go

• Autumn for maple leaves.
• Throughout the year for various flowers.
• Rose garden inspired by tomb paintings.

Address

〒981-0213　宮城県松島町松島字町内67 Map

Official site

www.entuuin.or.jp

Read more about Entsū-in Temple

See a 100-meter-tall Kannon statue with an elevator inside, offering unique views and statues.

What it is

• A Shingon Chisan sect esoteric Buddhist temple.
• Its grand head temple is Chishaku-in in Kyoto.
• Widely known for the 100-meter-tall Sendai Daikannon.
• The Kannon statue was completed on September 1, 1991.

What to see

• The 100-meter-tall Kannon statue, including its base.
• The Kannon faces Sendai Station, 7 kilometers away.
• Entrance to the interior is shaped like a dragon's mouth.
• Interior has 12 layers and a 60-meter-long atrium.
• Inside are 33 Kannon, 12 divine generals, 108 Buddhist statues.
• An elevator accesses the 12th layer inside the Kannon.

Address

宮城県仙台市泉区実沢字中山南31番地の36 Map

Official site

www.daikannon.com

Read more about Sendai Daikannon Temple

This temple, rebuilt by Date Masamune, offers a look into samurai power and wealth.

What it is

• Zen temple rebuilt in 1609 by Date Masamune.
• Family temple for the Date clan and a memorial.
• Main hall, entrance hall, and kitchen are National Treasures.
• Onarimon Gate, walls, and Chumon Gate are Important Cultural Properties.

What to see

• Approach lined with local slate slabs.
• Meditation caves in rock faces, some from Kamakura period.
• Three entrance gates: Onarimon, Chumon, Toryumon.
• Two 400-year-old plum trees in the courtyard.
• Kuri kitchen building with a large wooden roofed chimney.
• Main hall with white walls and dark wood beams.

Address

宮城県宮城郡松島町松島字町内91 Map

Official site

www.zuiganji.or.jp

Read more about Zuigan-ji Temple

Mutsu Kokubun-ji Temple: a historic Shingon temple with important cultural properties and scenic beauty.

What it is

• A Shingon-shu Chizan-ha temple.
• Main deity is Yakushi Nyorai.
• Established in the 740s during the Nara period.
• Rebuilt by Date Masamune in the early 17th century.

What to see

• Yakushido hall, completed in 1607.
• Yakushido hall is a National Important Cultural Property.
• Ancient temple ruins are a National Historic Site.
• Temple grounds are a National Place of Scenic Beauty.
• Wooden statues of Fudo Myoo, Bishamonten, and Twelve Divine Generals.

When to go

• Nanokado event is held annually on February 11.

Address

〒984-0047　宮城県仙台市若林区木ノ下2-8-28 Map

Official site

www.08943.com

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Mampuku-ji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple, notable for its sumo connections and cultural properties.

What it is

• A Shingon-shu Chizan-ha Buddhist temple.
• Founded around 1643.
• It is the betto-ji temple for Bishamonten.
• A center for Sendai sumo performances.

What to see

• A 3-meter tall Bishamonten statue.
• A memorial for 9th Yokozuna Hidenoyama Raigoro.
• The grave of 6th Shikimori Inosuke.
• The Bishamondo Karamon, a cultural property.

When to go

• Attend the 'Yozora no Orchestra in Aramachi' concert.

Getting there

• Accessible by subway and bus.

Address

宮城県仙台市若林区荒町206番地 Map

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Myokyoji is a historic Nichiren Shoshu temple with a unique gate and important cultural properties.

What it is

• A Nichiren Shoshu temple.
• Established in 1287.
• Founded by Nichimoku, the third patriarch of Nichiren Shoshu.

What to see

• The temple gate is a four-legged gate.
• Gate roof is copper-plated, gabled, and unpainted.
• The gate was designated a tangible cultural property in 1986.
• The Soshido was designated a tangible cultural property in 2004.

Getting there

• 10-minute drive from Tsukidate Interchange.
• 15-minute drive from Kurikoma-Kogen Station.

Address

宮城県栗原市一迫柳目字高畑3 Map

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See Japan's oldest wooden church building, a resilient cultural heritage site.

What it is

• A church of the Japanese Orthodox Church in Ishinomaki City.
• The current church building was completed in 1980.
• The old church building was completed in 1879.
• The old church building is Japan's oldest wooden church architecture.

What to see

• The current church building, flooded by the 2011 tsunami.
• The old church building, relocated to Nakaze Park.
• The old church building, a designated cultural property.
• The old church building, which survived the 2011 tsunami.

Read more about Ishinomaki Saint John the Apostle Orthodox Church

This Soto Zen temple, part of a Kannon pilgrimage, offers historical structures and unique rituals.

What it is

• A Soto Zen temple, mountain name Horinzan.
• Dedicated to Sho Kannon Bosatsu.
• Founded by Fujiwara no Hidehira as a Tendai temple.
• Re-established as Soto Zen in 1429.

What to see

• The temple gate, the only original structure.
• The temple gate is a tangible cultural property.
• A monument for Saigyo's poem, erected in 1983.
• Main hall, Akiba Daigongen, and a stupa.

When to go

• See the 'Yonekawa no Mizukaburi' fire-prevention ritual.

Address

宮城県登米市東和町米川字町下56 Map

Official site

daijiji.net

Read more about Daiji-ji Temple

Yokoyama Fudōson is a historic Sōtō Zen temple with a unique fish habitat and ancient pagoda.

What it is

• A Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple, formally named Daitoku-ji.
• Founded in 1156, enshrining a Buddha statue.
• Believed to be founded by Tachibana Chizen.

What to see

• A 5cm gold Fudō Myōō statue, the main image.
• Niōmon gate houses Kongō Rikishi statues.
• A pond created approximately 400 years ago.
• Pond is a habitat for many ugui fish.
• A bronze five-story pagoda made in 1765.

When to go

• Main image displayed once every 12 years.

Address

宮城県登米市津山町横山字本町3 Map

Official site

xn--ihq79ibwjylas08c.jp

Read more about Yokoyama Fudōson

Enmeiji Temple offers unique history, a castle gate, and a legendary pond.

What it is

• A Shingon-shu Chizan-ha Buddhist temple.
• The 33rd temple of the Shin Saigoku Reijo Karita Fudasho.

What to see

• The temple gate, relocated from Shiroishi Castle.
• Fuzumigaike pond, where Benkei sharpened his naginata.
• Korori Jizo-son enshrined within the grounds.

When to go

• July 15th and 16th for the Daisyo Kangiten Festival.
• Festival includes an evening prayer ceremony.
• Stalls are set up in front of the temple gate.

Address

宮城県白石市不澄ヶ池68 Map

Read more about Enmei-ji Temple

A Soto Zen temple in Sendai, built on ancient temple grounds, dedicated to Shokannon Bosatsu.

What it is

• A Soto Zen Buddhist temple, formally named Kokubun-niji.
• Its mountain name is Gokoku-zan.
• Dedicated to the main deity Shokannon Bosatsu.
• Rebuilt by the Kokubun clan in the late Middle Ages.

What to see

• The current temple grounds overlap with ancient temple remains.
• The site is a designated National Historic Site.

Getting there

• Located in Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai City.
• About 700 meters east of Mutsu Kokubun-ji.

Read more about Mutsu Kokubun-niji

Kōzō-ji Temple, founded in 819, houses Miyagi's oldest temple building and a significant Amida Nyorai statue.

What it is

• A Shingon-shu Chizan-ha Buddhist temple.
• Founded in 819 by Tokuitsu.
• Repaired in 1177 by Shōen.
• Repaired in 1179 by Fujiwara no Hidehira.

What to see

• The Amida-dō, Miyagi Prefecture's oldest temple building.
• The Amida-dō, built without chains or nails.
• A Jōroku Amida Nyorai seated statue is enshrined.
• Amida-dō is a National Important Cultural Property.
• Amida Nyorai statue is a National Important Cultural Property.

Address

宮城県角田市高倉字寺前49 Map

Official site

www.city.kakuda.miyagi.jp

Read more about Kōzō-ji Temple

Gikō-ji Temple is a historic Rinzai Zen temple with notable natural monuments and cultural properties.

What it is

• A Rinzai sect Myōshin-ji school temple.
• Its sango is Ōnukisan.
• Family temple of Sadamune of the Wakiyadate family.
• Established by Muneshige, Sadamune's second son.

What to see

• The main hall is a tangible cultural property.
• Main hall is a wooden single-story building.
• The kōyamaki is a national natural monument.
• The marumigaya is a prefectural natural monument.
• The urajirogashi was designated a natural monument.

Address

宮城県大崎市田尻大貫宿上屋敷24 Map

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Zennō-ji Temple: a historic Rinzai temple with cultural properties and ancient tombs.

What it is

• A Rinzai sect Myoshin-ji school temple.
• Founded in 1697.
• Originally named Kantōzan Shōtokuji.
• Known as "Giyaman-ji" for its luxurious construction.

What to see

• Eleven-faced Kannon statue, a cultural property.
• Bishamonten statue, also a cultural property.
• Zennō-ji Kaizandō, a tangible cultural property.
• Zennō-ji Yokoana Tomb Group, a designated historic site.
• Tomb group dates from Asuka to Nara periods.

Address

宮城県仙台市宮城野区燕沢2-3-1 Map

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Hōkyō-ji is a Sōtō Zen temple with a historic gate and notable artwork.

What it is

• A Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple.
• Its mountain name is Kinsen-zan.

What to see

• A 14-meter high rōmon (gate) from the Hōreki era.
• The rōmon is a designated tangible cultural property.
• Crane painting on sliding doors by Tō Tōyō.
• The painting is a designated tangible cultural property.

Getting there

• 25-minute walk from Kesennuma Station.
• 10-minute drive from Kesennuma-Chuo Interchange.

Address

宮城県気仙沼市川原崎31 Map

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Kannonji Temple, founded in the early 8th century, offers historical buildings and statues worth seeing.

What it is

• A Tendai sect temple, founded between 708 and 714.
• Principal image is Sho Kannon.
• Reorganized in 850 by Ennin.
• A branch temple of Enryaku-ji Temple.

What to see

• Kannon-do hall, built in 1723.
• Temple's zushi, made by a Kyoto sculptor.
• Zushi designated a cultural property in 1969.
• Wooden Amitabha Nyorai statue, a cultural property.

Getting there

• 8-minute walk from Fudonosawa Station.

Address

〒988-0074 宮城県気仙沼市本町1-4-16 Map

Read more about Kannon-ji Temple

Kōrin-ji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple with Miyagi's oldest temple gate.

What it is

• Buddhist temple founded in 1584.
• Established to mourn the Tsukiwaka brothers.
• Main deity is Amitābha Tathāgata.
• Converted to the Sōtō school of Buddhism.

What to see

• Temple gate built in 1540.
• Oldest temple gate in Miyagi Prefecture.
• Second oldest wooden building in Miyagi Prefecture.
• Temple gate is a cultural property.

Getting there

• 5-minute walk from Mitakedo Station.

Address

宮城県登米市豊里町杢沢87 Map

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Explore a historic Zen temple, famed for hydrangeas and samurai graves, offering a peaceful cultural experience.

What it is

• A Rinzai sect Myoshin-ji school temple.
• One of Sendai's Kitayama Gozan Zen temples.
• Built by Nagai Tokihide during the Koan era.
• Moved to its current location in 1638.

What to see

• The temple is famous for its hydrangeas.
• Shifuku-ji Temple ruins are a historical site.
• Ruins contain graves of Masamune, Terumune, and Endo Motonobu.

When to go

• Visit during hydrangea season.

Address

宮城県仙台市青葉区北山1丁目13-1 Map

Read more about Shifuku-ji Temple

Kesoku-ji Temple, founded in 807, is Japan's oldest sacred site for horses, with historic buildings.

What it is

• A Shingon-shu Chizan-ha temple.
• Founded in 807 by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro.
• Dedicated to Batō Kannon Bosatsu, the main deity.
• Japan's oldest sacred site for horses.

What to see

• The main gate, donated in 1799 by Date Chikamune.
• The main gate, designated a tangible cultural property.
• The guest hall, designated a tangible cultural property.
• The Batō Kannon-dō, rebuilt by Date Narimura.

Address

宮城県登米市東和町米川字小山下2 Map

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