March 12, 2025
Exploring Minobusan (1) Kuonji Temple
Table of Contents
Website: Kuonji Temple Official Website
Temple Grounds Map: Precincts Map
Note: Photography is prohibited in many areas within the temple halls. Please be mindful of the sacred atmosphere and respect the Buddhas, deities and other worshippers during your visit.
1. Introduction
Ever since the days of its founder, Nichiren Shonin, Minobusan Kuonji Temple, the head temple of the Nichiren Shu, has stood as a sacred mountain of Lotus Sutra devotion for over 750 years, To this day, the prayers of countless visitors continue to echo through these hallowed grounds.
Minobu Town, nestled deep in the mountains of Yamanashi Prefecture, may now be accessible within three hours by train or by bus from Tokyo. However, once you set foot here, you will feel the remoteness of this land, surrounded by towering mountains.
What thoughts weighed on Nichiren Shonin’s mind as he spent his final years in these deep mountains? What prayers did he offer in solitude?
Website: Kuonji Temple Official Website
Temple Grounds Map: Precincts Map
Note: Photography is prohibited in many areas within the temple halls. Please be mindful of the sacred atmosphere and respect the Buddhas, deities and other worshippers during your visit.
1. Introduction
Ever since the days of its founder, Nichiren Shonin, Minobusan Kuonji Temple, the head temple of the Nichiren Shu, has stood as a sacred mountain of Lotus Sutra devotion for over 750 years, To this day, the prayers of countless visitors continue to echo through these hallowed grounds.
Minobu Town, nestled deep in the mountains of Yamanashi Prefecture, may now be accessible within three hours by train or by bus from Tokyo. However, once you set foot here, you will feel the remoteness of this land, surrounded by towering mountains.
What thoughts weighed on Nichiren Shonin’s mind as he spent his final years in these deep mountains? What prayers did he offer in solitude?
Like the phrase kokoro arawareru (“cleansing of the heart”), a visit to Minobusan has an undeniable power to purify both your body and soul. The whispering of the wind through the cedars, the distant calls of birds, the gentle murmur of sutras – this place is alive with an energy that words and photographs can never fully convey. Its splendor is reserved for only those who visit.
Come visit, walk these paths, and immerse yourself in the flow of time that stretches back centuries.
2. Minobusan Kuonji Temple
Minobusan Kuonji Temple was established in the very place where Nichiren Shonin spent his later years in devotion. Today, as the head temple of the Nichiren Shu, it welcomes countless visitors who come to offer prayers to the Lotus Sutra and chant Odaimoku (Namu Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo).
The official website of Kuonji Temple describes its history as follows:
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History of the Minobusan Kuonji Temple
The Kamakura period (1185-1333) saw a series of epidemics and natural disasters, indicative phenomena related to the Age of Dharma Decline. Nichiren Shonin thrice remonstrated with the government, underlining his wish to guide people with ‘the Lotus Sutra’, only to be rejected each time.
The one who helped him was Nambu Sanenaga, one of his followers and the governor of Hakii Go village in the Province of Kai (today Yamanashi), who donated Minobusan (Mt. Minobu and its surroundings), part of his territory. Upon accepting the offer, Nichiren entered the site on May 17, 1274 and built his hermitage in Nishidani, at the foot of Mt. Takatori on June 17 the same year.
The Nichiren Shu history has officially registered May 17 as the day of Nichiren’s Entering Minobusan and June 17, the day of Opening the Minobusan Temple. Since then, Nichiren dedicated himself to reading the Lotus Sutra and guiding his disciples for nine years at the temple. On November 24, 1281, he upgraded his hermitage to a grand temple complex and named it “Minobusan Myohokkein Kuonji”.
On September 8, 1282, Nichiren departed Minobusan for the Province of Hitachi (present-day Ibaraki Prefecture), where he would treat his ailing health and visit his parents’ grave. However, amid his journey on October 13 the same year, his 61 years of life came to an end in Ikegami, the Province of Musashi (present-day Ota Ward, Tokyo). According to his will: “Wherever I may die, my tomb shall be built near the stream of Minobu”, his remains were brought back to Minobusan and enshrined.
After his death, Minobusan Kuonji Temple was succeeded by Niko Shonin, one of his legitimate disciples (one of the Six Elders) and schools of Niko’s lineage. The original temple complex lasted two centuries until it was relocated and enhanced by the 11th Successor Niccho Shonin in 1475 from Nishidani to the present location, which is less humid and more spacious. In later years, the temple flourished thanks to reverence and patronage by the Takeda and Tokugawa clans as well as the designation as a temple officiating imperial prayer services in 1706.
The light of dharma kindled by Nichiren Shonin has been ceaselessly maintained, even after his transition, alongside his grave protected by successive generations of head priests. At Minobusan Kuonji, the sanctuary where Nichiren preached the Lotus Sutra and his dedication of life, not a single day passes without many visits — as a center of faith to devout followers and a spiritual home to those who revere Nichiren.
＜https://kuonji.jp/english/history-of-kuonji/＞
3. The Main Hall & Founder’s Hall
Standing in the heart of Kuonji Temple, the Main Hall and Founder’s Hall define its majestic presence.
The Main Hall, spanning 32 meters in width and 51 meters in depth, enshrines numerous Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. It is vast enough to accommodate grand ceremonies of up to 1,500 participants. If you visit during New Year celebrations or Setsubun (the seasonal division festival), you will witness the sheer grandeur of these rituals.
Be sure to look up when you step inside the Main Hall. The ceiling, adorned with intricate artwork, will make you feel as though you are truly embraced by the divine being.
One experience not to be missed is the Morning Service held in the Main Hall everyday. You can read more about this solemn yet uplifting Service on the next page.
Adjacent to the Main Hall is the Founder’s Hall, Seishinkaku, where Nichiren Shonin is enshrined. The building was originally a temple from the Edo period, it was later relocated and reconstructed at Kuonji. Today, it is designated as a National Tangible Cultural Property.
The hall retains many architectural details from its era. Take a moment to admire the vivid colors, the meticulously carved wooden embellishments, and the craftsmanship that has withstood the test of time.
4. The Sacred Relic Hall
Next, we introduce the Sacred Relic Hall, which enshrines the remains of Nichiren Shonin. This sacred site consists of an elegant white octagonal hall and a worship pavilion.
For preservation purposes, it is not open to the general public. However, it remains a place where devotees maintain an unbroken connection with the founder through faith. One of the most profound ways to experience this connection is by participating in the Rinban Ceremony, a special memorial service.
If you have the opportunity, we encourage you to take part.
5. Recommended Hidden Spots
Finally, we introduce two hidden gems within Kuonji Temple that you may wish to discover for yourself.
Rather than providing detailed directions, we invite you to explore using the precincts map linked above. Both of these spots can be found near the Buddha Hall.
In these tranquil corners, the only sounds you will hear are the rustling leaves, the distant birds chirping, and the soft trickle of water.
Here, where time stands still, you will find a serene beauty that is unmistakably the essence of Japan.
◇ Inner Garden
A secluded haven of lush greenery and quiet contemplation.
◇ Grand Entrance
An awe-inspiring gateway where history lingers in every beam and tile.
In the next section, we will introduce the Morning Service, one of the most iconic aspects of Kuonji Temple. This section will also include important etiquette guidelines for visitors. Be sure to check it out before your visit!
Minobusan Kuonji Temple
Address: 3567 Minobu, Minobu Town, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi Prefecture
Website: Kuonji Temple Official Website
Temple Grounds Map: Precincts Map