History
Chusonji Temple 中尊寺
An ancient, serene mountaintop temple with a pavilion covered in gold
Chusonji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located in Hiraizumi 
between Ichinoseki and Oshu. You can get a glimpse into Japan's frontier history at this temple. A forest path leads to the simple yet elegant beauty of the temple itself, a sense of profound serenity encompasses the area, making it a great place to spend the day.
Don't Miss
- Konjikido, the Golden Hall, is a gold-covered pavilion built in the 12th century
- The Chusonji sutras (Buddhist scriptures penned in silver and gold)
Quick Facts
Chusonji was founded in 850, and large-scale construction of the temple occurred in the early 12th century
Chusonji was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2011
How to Get There
Take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Ichinoseki Station and change trains there.
Take a JR Tohoku Line from Ichinoseki Station bound for Morioka and get off at Hiraizumi Station. It is a 10-minute bus ride or 30-minute walk from the station to Chusonji.
Lotus flowers from seeds eight centuries old
Much of the temple has been rebuilt after its decline and the subsequent fire that destroyed numerous buildings in the complex. However, the Konjikido remains as it was when it was first built. The Konjikido, or the Golden Hall, is completely covered in gold leaf and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, providing a testimony to the fine craftsmanship of the time.
A kind of lotus flower known as the Chusonji lotus was germinated from the 800-year-old seeds found within the Konjikido. Now you can see lotus flowers bloom as they did centuries ago. They are at their best in July.
* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.
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