20 Temples in Yamaguchi worth your time

Unrin-ji Temple, or "Cat Temple," is worth visiting for its cat-themed art and unique Buddhist services.

What it is

• Rinzai Zen temple, over 400 years old.
• Known as Neko-dera, or “Cat Temple.”
• Once a sub-temple of Tenjuin.
• Dedicated to sharing Buddha's wisdom with cat-based stories.

What to see

• Cat-themed artwork, clippings, and items in the main building.
• Wooden cats by chainsaw artist Takao Hayashi.
• Cat-themed artwork by famous anime and manga illustrators.
• Cat-themed votive tablets, amulets, and manga pamphlet.
• Copy of the Lotus Sutra with feline illustrations.
• Over 800 statues of the bodhisattva Jizō.

When to go

• Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Getting there

• Bōchō Bus from Hagi Bus Center to Kibe-Tsuwano.
• 30-minute walk from Kibe Bus Stop.
• By car: Take Route 11, then Route 13 towards Tsuwano.
• 30 minutes by car.

Address

758-0304山口県萩市大字吉部上2489番地 Map

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This temple, founded in 1254, is worth visiting for its unique blend of Shinto and Buddhist elements.

What it is

• Temple founded in 1254, main place of worship for Ōuchi and Mōri clans.
• Affiliated with Shingon Buddhism, also enshrines a Shinto deity.
• Konpira is the guardian deity of seafarers, navigation, and fishermen.

What to see

• Torii gate indicates shared sacred space.
• Outer eaves of Konpira shrine hall have Chinese zodiac carvings.
• Massive tengu mask (1838) above entrance.
• Large (1.25m) cloisonné-backed ornamental mirror (1822) inside shrine hall.
• Wooden statue of a divine horse (1820) in a stable.
• Largest stone lantern in Yamaguchi prefecture (3m) with relief carvings.

When to go

• Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Getting there

• 3-minute walk west of Hagi Central Park.

Address

山口県萩市南古萩町6 Map

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Sesshutei is a strolling garden with dry landscape features and stone arrangements, worth visiting for its unique design.

What it is

• Strolling garden on the grounds of Joeiji Temple.
• Famous for its karesansui dry landscape features.
• Believed to be designed by Sesshu, a Zen Buddhist priest.

What to see

• Stone arrangements representing islands, mountains, and waterfalls.
• Central pond shaped like the Chinese character for “heart.”
• Stones in the water resemble a turtle and a crane.
• Extensive grounds with forested mountainsides and three ponds.
• Foamy nests of forest green tree frogs around Shimei Pond.
• Worship hall dedicated to Bishamonten on the mountainside.

When to go

• April to July to spot forest green tree frog nests.
• Weekends and holidays for matcha service in the teahouse.
• Autumn for illuminated fall colors at dusk.

Address

〒753-0011 山口県山口市宮野下2001 Map

Official site

sesshu.jp

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A historic Shingon temple in Kudamatsu featuring a rare Muromachi-period pagoda designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

What it is

• A Shingon Omuro sect temple also known by the mountain name Kagakusan.
• The only remaining sub-temple of the original nine belonging to Hanaoka Hachimangu.
• A religious site that manages pilgrimage halls in the Kuriya district of Shunan.

What to see

• A thirteen-meter tall Tahoto pagoda with a traditional shingle roof.
• A National Important Cultural Property pagoda dating to the mid-to-late Muromachi period.
• Five ridgepoles designated as National Important Cultural Properties.
• A ridgepole featuring a historical inscription from the year 1560.

When to go

• The Day of the Ox for the traditional cucumber blessing ceremony.

Official site

www.akaibou.or.jp

Read more about Akaibō

Yamaguchi City's oldest temple, founded in 698, with important cultural properties and a giant ginkgo.

What it is

• Oldest temple in Yamaguchi City, founded in 698.
• Established by En no Ozuno, built by Gyoki in 741.
• The 17th site of the Chugoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.
• Performs perpetual memorial services for pets.

What to see

• Large ginkgo tree, a national natural monument.
• Wooden seated Dainichi Nyorai statue, a National Important Cultural Property.
• Two Shitenno-zu Kinrin doors, National Important Cultural Properties.
• Wooden seated Senju Kannon Bosatsu statue, a prefectural cultural property.
• Wooden standing Fudo Myoo statue, a city cultural property.
• Wooden standing Bishamonten statue, a city cultural property.

Address

山口県山口市吉敷1750番地 Map

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This 15th-century pagoda, a National Treasure, is one of Japan's Three Greatest Pagodas.

What it is

• Five-storied pagoda, completed around 1442.
• Commissioned by Ouchi Morimi as a memorial to his brother.
• Considered one of Japan's Three Greatest Pagodas.
• Designated a National Treasure.

What to see

• Elegant five-storied pagoda with cypress bark roof.
• Pagoda is 31.2 meters high, stands out among trees.
• Wooden statue of Amida from the Heian period.
• Bronze statue of Ouchi Yoshihiro.
• Statues visible through the pagoda's lattice doors.

When to go

• Early spring for plum blossoms backdrop.
• Autumn for colorful foliage.

Address

山口県山口市香山町7-1 Map

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Amida-ji Temple: a historic temple with a national treasure and thousands of hydrangeas.

What it is

• Temple of the Kegon sect.
• Founded in 1187 by Chogen of Todai-ji Temple.
• Main image is Amida Nyorai.
• Rebuilt with help from the Ouchi clan.

What to see

• One National Treasure.
• Four Important Cultural Properties.
• Ancient stone bath, a cultural property.
• Main hall, rebuilt in 1731.
• 80 varieties and 4000 hydrangea plants.

When to go

• Hydrangea festival around June annually.
• Stone bath fired on the first Sunday of each month.

Address

山口県防府市大字牟礼字上坂本1869番地 Map

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Visit this ancient temple to see a National Historic Site and Important Cultural Property.

What it is

• A temple in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
• Special head temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect.
• Main deity is Yakushi Nyorai.
• Established by Emperor Shomu as Suo Province Kokubun-ji Temple.

What to see

• Former temple grounds are a National Historic Site.
• Large main hall is a National Important Cultural Property.
• Nio-mon gate is a Yamaguchi Prefecture Tangible Cultural Property.
• Many cultural properties are preserved here.

Official site

www.suoukokubunji.jp

Read more about Suō Kokubun-ji Temple

A historic Jodo Shinshu temple in Yamaguchi Prefecture featuring Amida Nyorai and a lineage dating back to the 17th century.

What it is

• A Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji-ha temple dedicated to the deity Amida Nyorai.
• The temple was founded by Ryokei, a disciple of Junnyo Shonin.
• It was moved to its current location in Tabuse Town in 1657.
• The mountain name of this religious site is Busshozan.

What to see

• The main enshrined image of the deity Amida Nyorai.
• Historical architecture preserved since the temple relocated in the mid-seventeenth century.

Read more about Ryoho-ji Temple

Tōkō-ji Temple is a historic Ōbaku Zen temple with a unique dragon layout and important cultural properties.

What it is

• Ōbaku Zen temple in Hagi City.
• Founded in 1691 by Mōri Yoshinari.
• Family temple of the Mōri family.
• One of three great Ōbaku Zen temples.

What to see

• Temple layout represents the shape of a dragon.
• Four buildings are Important Cultural Properties.
• Sōmon gate built around 1693.
• Shōrō bell tower built around 1694.
• Daiōhōden main hall built in 1698.
• Mōri clan mausoleum is a National Historic Site.

Address

山口県萩市椿東椎原1647 Map

Official site

www.toukouji.net

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Tainei-ji Temple is a historic Soto Zen temple with cultural properties and a tragic past.

What it is

• Soto Zen Buddhist temple, founded in 1410.
• Originally named Kofuku-ji.
• Site of Ouchi Yoshitaka's death in 1551.
• Rebuilt under the patronage of the Mori clan.

What to see

• Main hall, rebuilt in 1829, is a cultural property.
• Temple grounds are a prefectural historic site.
• Stone bridge called Banseki-bashi.
• Bronze bell from 1396 is a city cultural property.
• Kokeiden history museum opened in 2010.

Address

山口県長門市深川湯本1074番地 Map

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Fugen-ji Temple is a Rinzai Buddhist temple with a beautiful garden and unique statues.

What it is

• A Rinzai sect Kennin-ji school temple.
• Enshrines Fugen Bosatsu as a Buddha of longevity.
• Worships Fugen Bosatsu as a guardian Buddha of the sea.

What to see

• A Nio-mon gate.
• A Tamagaki stone fence.
• Sixteen Rakan statues.
• A Tenborin prayer wheel.
• A Koyasu Kannon Bosatsu statue.
• A Sesshu-tei garden.

When to go

• The Fugen Festival is held annually on May 14th and 15th.

Address

山口県光市室積8-6-1 Map

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Mara Kannon Temple is a unique shrine in Nagato City for fertility prayers, known for its phallic statues.

What it is

• A temple or shrine in Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
• Built to console the spirit of Ouchi Kanjiumaru.
• Known for prayers for fertility and health.

What to see

• Many penis-shaped stone statues surround the small shrine.
• Ceramic phallic statues displayed in a shrine on the premises.

When to go

• Mara Kannon Festival is held annually in May.

Read more about Mara Kannon Temple

Kōzan-ji Temple is a historic Zen temple with a National Treasure Buddha hall.

What it is

• A Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple.
• Founded in 1327 as Chōfuku-ji Temple.
• Family temple of the Chōfu Mōri clan.
• 19th temple of the Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

What to see

• Butsuden (Buddha hall) is a National Treasure.
• Butsuden was built in 1320.
• Seated statue of Senju Kannon is the main deity.
• Sōmon (main gate) is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.

Address

山口県下関市長府川端1丁目2-3 Map

Official site

npweb.com

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Gachirin-ji is a Soto Zen temple, home to Yamaguchi's oldest wooden building.

What it is

• A Soto Zen temple in Yamaguchi City.
• Established in 1198 by Chogen.
• Named after Fujiwara no Kanezane's nickname.

What to see

• Oldest wooden building in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
• Yakushi-do houses numerous Buddhist statues.
• Yakushi-do is a National Important Cultural Property.

When to go

• Yakushi Great Ennichi is held annually on May 5th.

Address

山口県山口市徳地上村字蔵場572番地 Map

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Injō-ji Temple is a historic Jōdo-shū Buddhist temple with a significant connection to Joseon envoys.

What it is

• Jōdo-shū Buddhist temple.
• Founded in 1560 by Chūyo Ittoku.
• Rebuilt in 1598 as Kobayakawa Takakage's family temple.
• Served as lodging for Joseon envoys during the Edo period.

What to see

• Sanmon gate, rebuilt in 1769.
• Sanmon gate is a Shimonoseki City designated cultural property.
• Road connecting to Shunpanrō is named "Li Hongzhang Road".

Address

山口県下関市中之町11-9 Map

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Explore the ruins of a 16th-century family temple and its unique stone wall.

What it is

• Ruins of Ryōun-ji, a family temple of Ōuchi Yoshioki.
• Founded around 1507 by Ryōan Keigo.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1959.

What to see

• A 60-meter long, 3-meter high stone wall.
• Stone wall structure resembles those in Korea and Okinawa.
• Two hōkyōintō and one kaisantō remain.
• Ōuchi Yoshioki's tomb, built after 1529.

Address

山口県山口市中尾 Map

Read more about Ōuchishi iseki Ryōun-ji ato

Mantoku-in Temple: a historic Shingon temple with notable Kikkawa family burials and a scenic garden.

What it is

• A Shingon sect temple.
• Founded around 1575.
• Protects Kikkawa family burials.
• Moved from Aki Province to Iwakuni.

What to see

• Burial site of Shinjō-dono, Kikkawa Motoharu's wife.
• Burial site of Yōkō-in, Kikkawa Hiroie's wife.
• Former temple garden, a national scenic spot.
• Original temple site, now a national historic park.

Address

山口県岩国市横山3-9-1 Map

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A modern Catholic cathedral in Yamaguchi City, commemorating Francis Xavier's arrival in Japan.

What it is

• A cathedral of the Catholic Hiroshima Diocese.
• Built in 1952, rebuilt in 1998.
• Commemorates 400 years since Francis Xavier's arrival.

What to see

• Two towers, 53 meters high.
• Large roof resembling a tent.
• Italian-made carillon bells.

When to go

• Carillon bells ring every 15 minutes from 7 AM to 9 PM.

Official site

www.xavier.jp

Read more about Yamaguchi Xavier Memorial Church

Ryūfuku-ji is a historic Sōtō Zen temple with a 15th-century main hall and museum.

What it is

• A Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple.
• Founded as Zuiun-ji in 1206-1207.
• Rebuilt in 1454, becoming Sōtō Zen.
• Principal image is Shaka Nyorai.

What to see

• The main hall, built in 1479.
• Main hall is an Important Cultural Property.
• Temple grounds are Ōuchi Clan Residence Ruins.
• The Ryūfuku-ji Museum.

Address

山口県山口市大殿大路119番地 Map

Read more about Ryūfuku-ji Temple (Yamaguchi)