What are the main attractions at the temple?

The five-story pagoda built in 1622 is the primary architectural highlight. The complex includes the main hall with Buddhist statues, prayer halls, meditation spaces, traditional gardens, and a small museum displaying Buddhist art and artifacts.

How do I get to Hondoji Temple from Tokyo?

Take the JR Joban Line from central Tokyo, approximately 40 minutes to Kita-Kogane Station. The temple is a 20-minute walk from the station, or accessible by local bus. Parking is available for drivers.

How long does a typical visit take?

A standard visit exploring the grounds, pagoda, main hall, and gardens takes approximately 1-2 hours. Adding the museum extends the visit by 30-45 minutes.

Chiba

Hondoji Temple

4.2 (2180)Buddhist TempleTourist AttractionPlace Of WorshipAssociation Or OrganizationPoint Of InterestEstablishment

Last updated Apr 4, 2026

Hondoji Temple stands as one of the most significant Buddhist temples in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture, with a history spanning over 700 years. Founded in 1277 during the Kamakura period, this temple belongs to the Nichiren sect of Japanese Buddhism and serves as the head temple of the Nakayama lineage. The temple was established by Nichiro, one of the six senior disciples of Nichiren, the founder of this Buddhist school, making it an important pilgrimage site for followers of Nichiren Buddhism.

The temple grounds showcase traditional Japanese Buddhist architecture with several designated cultural properties. The main hall, rebuilt in the Edo period, houses sacred Buddhist statues and religious artifacts. The five-story pagoda, constructed in 1622, remains one of the temple's most photographed structures and represents a rare example of early Edo-period pagoda architecture in the Kanto region. The temple also preserves historical documents and sutras that provide insight into medieval Japanese religious practices.

Visitors can explore the extensive temple complex, which includes multiple prayer halls, meditation spaces, and beautifully maintained gardens that reflect seasonal changes. The temple is particularly popular during cherry blossom season in spring and autumn foliage season when the grounds transform with vibrant colors. Monthly memorial services and Buddhist ceremonies take place throughout the year, offering visitors opportunities to observe authentic religious practices. The temple also operates a small museum displaying Buddhist art and historical artifacts related to Nichiren Buddhism.

Hondoji Temple is located approximately 20 minutes on foot from Kita-Kogane Station on the JR Joban Line, or visitors can take a local bus that stops near the temple entrance. From central Tokyo, the journey takes roughly 40 minutes via the JR Joban Line. The temple grounds are open to the public with no admission fee for general access, though donations are appreciated. The museum area may charge a small fee of around 300-500 yen.

Hours

Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Phone

+81 47-346-2121

Website

www.hondoji.net

Overview

Address

63 Hiraga, Matsudo, Chiba 270-0002, Japan

Places & attractions near Hondoji Temple

Little Edo Sawara Boat Tour

Meiji Centennial Observatory

Tokyo Wan Kannon

Chiba Islamic Cultural Center

Places & attractions near Hondoji Temple

Little Edo Sawara Boat Tour

Meiji Centennial Observatory

Tokyo Wan Kannon

Chiba Islamic Cultural Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Traveler reviews

June is the season of hydrangeas, and Hondoji is famous for its iconic flowers. It took just 15 minutes to reach the temple from JR Kitakogane Station. I enjoyed seeing hydrangeas along the sando street. The admission fee was 500 yen, and it was true that the temple was filled with beautiful blooms. The grounds were quite large, and I strolled around for about 30 minutes. The irises had finished blooming, but the hydrangeas were about 80% in bloom. Overall, it was a lovely experience.

Mark N. Takayama

Jun 9, 2026

Beautiful temple grounds. I'm really glad I made the trip out of Tokyo centre to here. On a rainy weekday it was super peaceful. The hydrangeas were a bit past their peak, but still beautiful. I got gorgeous hydrangea goshuin too. Even the walk from the station was nice

It is a better seasonal scene spot than Kamakura, with more flowers while not crowed like Kamakura.

I have been visiting the temple many times. This time I went there on 16-Jun-2024 to see Japanese Hydrangea. The flowers are still beautiful but it is a bit late to see the flowers. The best time for seeing the flowers maybe first week of Jun. There are two free car park in front of the temple. There is male guard standing at the entrance of the car park. Last time we went to a car park with a old lady at the entrance and costed 500 yen for parking. We should just drive a bit closer to the temple to utilize the free car park. The free car park are not very big but it is not difficult to find a empty slot as people driving in and driving out quite frequently. The temple is not very big so two to three hours should be enough to walk through the temple and take a lot of photos.

Mid June 2023 If you like hydrangeas and temples it has to be here. I went to Kamakura and no doubt about it Hondoji has more to offer in terms of size and number of hydrangeas and less crowded too. Make a better choice by coming here