Complete Guide to Hoshoji Temple | History, Access, and Highlights Explained in Detail
There are several temples named Hoshoji throughout Japan. The most famous is the Hoshoji Temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, known as the family temple of the Fujiwara clan. However, historical Hoshoji temples are scattered throughout various locations, including Kamakura, Osaka, Aichi, and Sagamihara. This article provides a detailed and comprehensive explanation of each Hoshoji Temple, covering their history, highlights within the temple grounds, cultural assets, and access methods.
Table of Contents
- Hoshoji Temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City
- Hoshoji Temple in Kamakura City (Saruhatakeyama)
- Hoshoji Temple in Toyono Town, Osaka Prefecture (Seigakuzan)
- Hoshoji Temple in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture
- Other Hoshoji Temples
- Frequently Asked Questions
Hoshoji Temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City
Basic Information
Hoshoji Temple, located in Honmachi, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, is a nunnery belonging to the Jodo-shu Seizan Zenrinji sect. Its mountain name is Daihizan, its principal image is the Thousand-Armed Kannon, and it is the 21st temple of the Rakuyo Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage, attracting many worshippers.
Temple Data
- Sect: Jodo-shu Seizan Zenrinji School
- Mountain Name: Daihizan
- Principal Image: Twenty-seven-faced Thousand-armed Kannon
- Founded: Encho 2 (924)
- Founder: Fujiwara no Tadahira
- Pilgrimage Site: 21st of the Rakuyo Thirty-three Kannon Pilgrimage Sites
History
Founding and the Fujiwara Clan’s Temple
Hoshoji Temple was founded in Encho 2 (924) by Fujiwara no Sadahira. The temple’s name is said to have been derived from Hoshobo Son’i, the head priest of the Tendai sect, whom Tadahira studied under. As the Fujiwara clan’s family temple, it boasted a vast temple grounds during the Heian period and symbolized the power of the Fujiwara regency family.
Temple Complex at its Peak
From the mid to late Heian period, Hoshoji Temple possessed a magnificent temple complex. The temple complex once boasted over a hundred buildings, including the main hall, the Five Great Halls, the Kanjo Hall, and the Sanmai Hall, forming a vast area encompassing the present-day Tofuku-ji and Sennyu-ji temples. In 1147, Fujiwara no Tadamichi constructed a new hall, and further expansion took place in 1162.
Decline and Restoration
During the Onin War (1467-1477) of the Muromachi period, the temple complex suffered catastrophic damage from fire. Subsequently, the once vast temple grounds were lost, and during the Edo period, it remained a small temple, barely preserving its religious traditions. The current main hall was rebuilt after the Edo period, and while it lacks the grandeur of its former glory, its historical value as the Fujiwara clan’s family temple remains undiminished.
Highlights of the Temple Grounds
Main Hall
The current main hall houses the principal image, a statue of Senju Kannon (Thousand-Armed Kannon). Although a small temple, it exudes a tranquil atmosphere, gently welcoming visitors. You can receive the Goshuin (temple stamp) for the Rakuyo Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage inside the main hall.
Waka Poem
The waka poem for the 21st temple of the Rakuyo Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage is: “On the withered shore, the ship of harvest, Hoshoji, crosses the sea of Jōji at ease.” This poem, expressing a wish for a peaceful journey to the Pure Land, is beloved by many pilgrims.
Cultural Properties
In its heyday, Hoshoji Temple housed many Buddhist statues and works of art, but most were lost due to warfare, including the Ōnin War. Currently, some of the cultural properties that once belonged to Hoshoji Temple are housed in institutions such as the Kyoto National Museum and the Tokyo National Museum. In particular, some of the Buddhist sculptures and paintings from the Heian period are designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties, serving as valuable historical materials that convey the Fujiwara culture to the present day.
Preceding and Following Temples
This is a guide for those visiting the 33 Kannon pilgrimage sites of Rakuyo.
- Temple No. 20: Zennōji Temple
- Temple No. 21: Hōshōji Temple (This temple)
- Temple No. 22: Sennyūji Temple
Sennyūji Temple is located in an area that was formerly within the grounds of Hōshōji Temple, allowing visitors to feel a historical connection.
Visiting Information
Visiting Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (May vary depending on the season)
Admission Fee: Free entry to the grounds (Please check for entry to the main hall)
Goshuin (Temple Stamp): Available (Rakuyo Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage)
Parking: None (Please use nearby coin-operated parking)
Access
Location: 15-chome, Honmachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture 605-0981
Public Transportation
- Approximately 15 minutes on foot from Keihan Railway “Tofukuji Station”
- Approximately 10 minutes on foot from the city bus “Sennyuji-michi” stop
- Approximately 15 minutes on foot from JR Nara Line “Tofukuji Station”
By Car
- Approximately 20 minutes from Meishin Expressway “Kyoto Minami IC”
- Public transportation is recommended as there is no parking available.
Hoshoji Temple (Saruhatayama) in Kamakura City
Basic Information
Hōshōji Temple, located in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a Nichiren Buddhist temple with the mountain name Sarubatakeyama. It is affectionately known locally as “Osarubatake” and is situated along a hiking trail leading to the Nagoshi Pass and Mandara-dō.
Temple Data
- Sect: Nichiren Buddhism
- Mountain Name: Sarubatakeyama
- Principal Image: Statue of Nichiren Shonin
- Nickname: Osarubatake
History and Origin
Hōshōji Temple in Kamakura is a temple steeped in legends related to Nichiren Shonin. Legend says that when Nichiren Shonin was conducting missionary work in Kamakura, he was helped by a monkey in this area, which is the origin of the mountain name “Sarubatakeyama.” It is revered as the “white monkey that wards off misfortune” and is believed to offer protection against disaster.
Temple Grounds Features
The main hall houses a statue of Nichiren Shonin, and a statue of a white monkey is also enshrined there. Located along a hiking trail, it’s a quiet temple surrounded by nature, and many visitors combine their visit with a historical stroll through Kamakura.
Access
Location: Omachi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Public Transportation
- Approximately 25 minutes on foot from JR Yokosuka Line “Kamakura Station”
- Approximately 10 minutes on foot from Keikyu Bus “Nagoe” stop
Hiking Trail
- Located along the Nagoe Pass hiking trail
- On the way to the Mandara-do Yagura Group
Hoshoji Temple (Seigakuzan), Toyono-cho, Osaka Prefecture
Basic Information
Hoshoji Temple, located in Kirihata, Toyono-cho, Toyono-gun, Osaka Prefecture, is a Nichiren Buddhist temple with the mountain name Seigakuzan. Located in the northernmost part of Osaka Prefecture, it is known as the “temple with the stone bath and the Kanehiki Jizo.”
Temple Data
- Sect: Nichiren Buddhism
- Mountain Name: Seigakuzan
- Location: Kirihata, Toyono-cho, Toyono-gun, Osaka Prefecture (formerly Higashi-Nose Village)
History
It is said that this temple was built to commemorate the wife of Yorinaga, the fifth son of Nose Yoritsugu, when she passed away. Located along the Stone Buddha Road, it has long been a center of local faith.
Highlights
Stone Bath
A rare stone bath remains on the temple grounds, believed to have been used by monks in the past. This bath, constructed from assembled stones, is a valuable relic that evokes the temple life of the Middle Ages.
Money-Hit Jizo
A Jizo Bodhisattva, worshipped locally as the “Money-Hit Jizo,” is enshrined here. It is believed to bring good fortune in money and business prosperity, attracting many worshippers.
Access
Location: Kirihata, Toyono-cho, Toyono-gun, Osaka Prefecture
Public Transportation
- Take a bus from Myokenguchi Station on the Nose Railway
- Get off at Kirihata bus stop (Hankyu Bus), approximately 5 minutes on foot
By Car
- Approximately 30 minutes from Kawanishi IC on the Shin-Meishin Expressway
- Parking available
Hoshoji Temple, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture
Basic Information
Hoshoji Temple, located in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, is a temple known for the legend surrounding the birth of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Established in the mid-Heian period, it was a place of deep devotion for Matsudaira Hirotada, Ieyasu’s father.
History and its Relationship to Tokugawa Ieyasu
The Temple Where Ieyasu Was Prayed for His Birth
Matsudaira Hirotada longed for the birth of a son and ordered Eiku, the resident monk of Hoshoji Temple, to pray to the Yakushi Nyorai (Medicine Buddha) at Horaiji Temple. It is said that the result of this prayer was the birth of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Therefore, as a temple associated with the Tokugawa family, Hoshoji Temple received strong protection throughout the Edo period.
Founded in the Heian Period
Hoshoji Temple is believed to have been founded in the mid-Heian period, and is thought to have originally been a Tendai or Shingon Buddhist temple. It flourished as an influential local temple throughout the medieval period, and during the Sengoku period, it attracted the devotion of the Matsudaira clan.
Temple Grounds and Cultural Assets
The main hall houses the principal image of worship and preserves documents and materials related to Tokugawa Ieyasu. The temple grounds offer a tranquil environment, making it a valuable place to experience the history of Okazaki.
Access
Location: Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture
Public Transportation
- Take a bus from Higashi-Okazaki Station on the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line
- Also accessible via the Aichi Loop Railway
By Car
- Approximately 15 minutes from Okazaki Interchange on the Tomei Expressway
- Parking available
Other Hoshoji Temples
Hoshoji Temple (Shinnyo-zan) in Osaka City
Shinnyo-zan Hoshoji Temple, located in the heart of Osaka City, is known as a temple where time flows peacefully despite its urban location. It is said to have had ties with the Satsuma Domain during the late Edo period and is trusted by the community as a temple where people can receive heartfelt memorial services. It also has a columbarium and operates as a modern temple.
Hoshoji Temple in Sagamihara City
There is also a Nichiren Buddhist temple in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture, called Hoshoji Temple. It is a core temple in the region and a member of the Sagamihara Buddhist Association. As a community-oriented temple, it deepens its ties with parishioners through annual events and memorial services.
How to Enjoy Visiting Hoshoji Temples
Learning About Historical Background
Each Hoshoji temple has a different historical background. At the Hoshoji in Kyoto, you can learn about the glory of the Fujiwara regency; at the Hoshoji in Kamakura, you can learn about the footsteps of Nichiren Shonin; and at the Hoshoji in Aichi, you can learn about the secret story of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s birth. For history buffs, visiting each Hoshoji temple is a valuable opportunity to relive important moments in Japanese history.
Collecting Goshuin (Temple Stamps)
The Hoshoji in Kyoto is a pilgrimage site of the Rakuyo Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage and offers Goshuin stamps. Visiting as part of a pilgrimage provides a deeper pilgrimage experience. Other Hoshoji temples may also offer Goshuin, so it’s a good idea to check beforehand.
Nature and Hiking
The Hoshoji in Kamakura is located along the Nagoe Pass hiking trail, allowing you to enjoy nature walks and temple visits simultaneously. Hoshoji Temple in Toyono-cho, Osaka, is also located in a rich natural environment, offering a peaceful escape from the city.
Notes on Visiting
Dress Code and Manners
When visiting a temple, avoid revealing clothing and opt for modest attire. Remove your hat inside the main hall and pray quietly. Photography is permitted only in designated areas; prior confirmation is necessary before photographing Buddha statues or the interior of the main hall.
Check Visiting Hours
Especially at smaller temples, visiting hours may be limited, or prior contact may be required. If you are visiting from afar, it is recommended to check the latest information by phone or on the temple’s website before visiting.
About Goshuin (Temple Seals)
Goshuin are given as proof of your visit. Bring your goshuincho (stamp book) and politely request one after your visit. Some temples offer pre-printed goshuin. The fee for a goshuin is generally between 300 and 500 yen.
Summary
There are temples named Hoshoji throughout Japan, each with its own unique history and culture. The Hoshoji in Kyoto was the family temple of the Fujiwara clan and a center of Heian-period aristocratic culture; the Hoshoji in Kamakura is a sacred site associated with the legend of Nichiren Shonin; and the Hoshoji in Aichi is a historically significant temple related to the birth of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Visiting each Hoshoji allows you to experience important moments in Japanese history and feel the faith and culture of each era. The appeal of visiting Hoshoji lies in the various ways you can enjoy it, such as a pilgrimage to the 33 temples of Rakuyo, a pilgrimage combined with hiking, or historical exploration.
Using the information presented in this article, please do visit Hoshoji temples throughout Japan. We hope you will experience the unique atmosphere and historical weight of each temple firsthand. A moment of prayer in the quiet temple grounds will be a precious time to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life and find peace of mind.
