Temple Town of National Treasure Zenkoji
Nagano City began as a temple town 1,400 years ago that developed with Zenkoji Temple at its center. With beautiful Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in the heart of Japan’s mountains, Nagano City is a hub of spiritual sites and natural splendor.
After arriving in Nagano, walk from the station to Zenkoji, following the wooden lanterns along Chuo-dori street. Eventually you’ll reach Motozen-machi with its cobbled streets and beautiful temple lodges. Known as the ‘Omotesando’ or ‘Pilgrims Way’, many older buildings including traditional merchant buildings have been retained along the road, converted for use as restaurants, cafes and a range of interesting shops worth visiting as you stroll to the temple. The road leads directly to the temple complex, through its progressively more impressive gates and ending at the Main Hall.
Within this national treasure, carefully hidden from sight, an invaluable artifact awaits. The rare hibutsu (secret Buddha) is believed to be the first Buddha statue to have entered Japan. From generations of high priests to the Emperor himself, no one has looked at the hibutsu for centuries and that strict tradition continues even today.
After arriving in Nagano, walk from the station to Zenkoji, following the wooden lanterns along Chuo-dori street. Eventually you’ll reach Motozen-machi with its cobbled streets and beautiful temple lodges. Known as the ‘Omotesando’ or ‘Pilgrims Way’, many older buildings including traditional merchant buildings have been retained along the road, converted for use as restaurants, cafes and a range of interesting shops worth visiting as you stroll to the temple. The road leads directly to the temple complex, through its progressively more impressive gates and ending at the Main Hall.
Within this national treasure, carefully hidden from sight, an invaluable artifact awaits. The rare hibutsu (secret Buddha) is believed to be the first Buddha statue to have entered Japan. From generations of high priests to the Emperor himself, no one has looked at the hibutsu for centuries and that strict tradition continues even today.
