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HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Temples of Iiyama
A city of temples in Japan’s picturesque snow country
Shinshu Iiyama Tourism Bureau
Far up in the northern region of Nagano Prefecture lies Iiyama, a city of rolling countryside, long-held traditions and nostalgic villages. With around 20 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, many of which are historically significant, it is also sometimes called Little Kyoto, a name given to it by the literary master Toson Shimazaki.
Iiyama’s Atago district is home to so many temples and altar shops, it is often nicknamed “Buddhist Altar Street”. To ensure you don’t miss any, a dedicated sightseeing promenade connects each one, allowing you to enjoy them on your own, while also enjoying the city’s architecture, much of which is uniquely designed to withstand the area’s heavy winter drifts of snow. The temples are particularly beautiful when surrounded by the changing autumn colors.
Learn more about Japanese Buddhism through the various experiences offered by Iiyama’s temples. Try a vegetarian Buddhist meal at Daishoji, a temple founded by feudal lords in the 16th century, take a meditation class in Jofukuji’s Zen meditation hall, or visit the stone garden of Shonenji.
How to get there
From Tokyo Station, it is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to Iiyama Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, followed by a 15-minute walk from Iiyama Station.
Iiyama Station Tourist Information Center
772-6 Iiyama-shi, Nagano-ken
