11 Temples in Miyazaki worth your time

A National Historic Site on the Saitobaru Plateau featuring ancient temple foundations and significant wooden Buddhist statues from the eighth century.

What it is

• A National Historic Site established between 741 and 756 as a provincial nunnery.
• The temple was dedicated to the Gochi Nyorai deities and belonged to the Shingon sect.
• The site was officially abolished in 1871 following the Meiji Restoration.
• The grounds are situated on the Saitobaru Plateau in Miyazaki Prefecture.

What to see

• Excavated remains of the original lecture hall and connecting corridors.
• Five wooden Gochi Nyorai statues designated as Prefectural Tangible Cultural Properties.
• The nunnery site located six hundred meters north of the main temple area.
• The secondary site currently situated within the grounds of Tsuma High School.

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Jōzen-ji Temple is a historic Nichiren Shōshū head temple with a National Important Cultural Property.

What it is

• One of three head temples of Nichiren Shōshū.
• Founded in 1331 by Satsuma Ajari Nichiei.
• The founder was the local lord Itō clan.
• Converted to Nichiren Shōshū in 1957.

What to see

• Current main hall completed in 1977.
• Honken-ji Temple relocated within the grounds.
• A copy of Soga Monogatari transcribed by a monk.
• This Soga Monogatari is a National Important Cultural Property.

Getting there

• 15-minute walk from Hyūga-shi Station.
• Hyūga-shi Station is on the Nippō Main Line.

Address

宮崎県日向市財光寺7295 Map

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A historic Shingon temple in Miyazaki featuring ancient clan graves and a stop on the Kyushu Fudo pilgrimage.

What it is

• A Koyasan Shingon temple founded in 1152 by a local lord.
• The fourteenth site of the Kyushu Thirty-six Fudo Pilgrimage.
• The primary deity enshrined at this location is Fudo Myoo.
• A former prayer temple for the lords of Obi Castle.

What to see

• The main hall which was reconstructed in 1976.
• A group of historic gravestones belonging to the Niiro clan.
• A traditional temple bell known as a waniguchi, designated as a cultural property.

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This Sōtō Zen temple, founded in 1521, offers unique treasures and a sacred waterfall.

What it is

• A Sōtō Zen temple, founded in 1521.
• Originally named Yakugen-ji Temple.
• Renamed Shōryū-ji in 1625.
• Family temple of Fujie Kenmotsu and his son.

What to see

• Principal image of Shaka Nyorai.
• Enshrines Yakushi Nyorai, Kannon Bosatsu, and Fudō Myōō.
• Sacred Yahoe Kannon-daki waterfall.
• Yakushi Nyorai treasure from Higo.
• Ceiling paintings from the Nobeoka Castle Makino family.

Address

宮崎県西臼杵郡日之影町七折舟ノ尾2369-1 Map

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Hyūga Myōkoku-ji Temple is a historic Nichiren temple with Kamakura-period art and a scenic garden.

What it is

• A Nichiren Buddhist temple.
• Founded by Saishō Ajari Nichigō.
• Used as lodging for shogunate officials in the Edo period.

What to see

• Kamakura period Fudō Myōō statue.
• Kamakura period komainu (guardian dogs).
• Temple garden and main gate are a national scenic spot.
• Designated ginkgo tree, estimated 300 years old.
• Authentic mandalas of Nichigō and Nichiyō.

Address

宮崎県日向市細島373番地 Map

Official site

www.myokokuji.jp

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Imayama Daishi-ji is a mountain temple with Japan's largest bronze Kobo Daishi statue.

What it is

• A temple on Imayama mountain, founded in 1839.
• Its mountain name is Horaisan.
• Dedicated to Kobo Daishi Kukai.

What to see

• Japan's largest bronze statue of Kobo Daishi Kukai.
• A 30 cm wooden statue of Kobo Daishi.
• The Daishi-do hall, built in 1918.

When to go

• Imayama Daishi Festival, around March 21st of the lunar calendar.

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Jōgan-ji is a Sōtō Zen temple with a unique memorial tower, founded in 1552.

What it is

• A Sōtō Zen temple, founded around 1552.
• Mera Kunaishō founded the temple.
• Dedicated to Amitābha Tathāgata.
• Revived between 1655 and 1657.

What to see

• A memorial tower for the San'in peasant uprising.
• The memorial tower was built in 1811.
• Designated a city tangible cultural property in 1978.

Address

宮崎県日向市東郷町山陰辛12-1 Map

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Hontō-ji Temple is a historic Nichiren temple with unique treasures and a famous plum tree.

What it is

• A Nichiren sect temple.
• Founded by Kai Hokkyō Ryūkaku.
• Served as a guardian temple for Matsuo Castle.

What to see

• The Great Honzon of Eternal Salvation.
• Shrines for Kishimojin and Daikokuten.
• A 220-year-old plum tree, Enichibai.
• Graves of Arima Naosumi, Arima Yasuzumi, and Hyūga Gozen.

Address

宮崎県延岡市松山町1133 Map

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Honzen-ji is a Nichiren Shoshu temple founded in 1335, offering historical artifacts and ancient tombstones.

What it is

• A Nichiren Shoshu temple.
• Founded in 1335 by Nichiei.
• Its mountain name is Hichiyasan.
• Originally a Gōmon temple.

What to see

• A wakizashi sword named 'Uzura Maru'.
• Ancient tombstones on the grounds.
• Memorial tower for Ito Sukeie, built 1531.
• Memorial tower for Nichigo, built 1379.

Address

宮崎県日向市日知屋1379-1 Map

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Honren-ji is a historic Nichiren Shoshu temple, re-established after 1870, with a scenic old approach.

What it is

• A Nichiren Shoshu temple.
• Founded in or before 1488.
• Established by Nichiyo, 11th abbot of Myohon-ji.
• Abolished in 1870, re-established after 1915.

What to see

• A path called Usagi-michi, an old approach.
• A stone tablet for founder Nichiyo, erected in 1518.

Address

宮崎県児湯郡新富町大字新田12743 Map

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Sanfuku-ji is a historic Jodo-shu temple with important cultural properties and family tombs.

What it is

• Jodo-shu temple, founded in 1614.
• Founded by Arima Naozumi.
• Became the Naito family's ancestral temple.

What to see

• Gilded lotus pond design Keman.
• Tombstones of the Naito family.
• Tombstones of Arima Naozumi.

Address

宮崎県延岡市北町2丁目1番3号 Map

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