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.

Hondoji Temple

4.2 (2063)Tourist AttractionPlace Of WorshipPoint Of InterestEstablishment

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 The temple also preserves historical documents and sutras that provide insight into medieval Japanese religious practices.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.

What other travelers are saying about Hondoji Temple

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

Cherry Yip

Aug 10, 2025

A stunning experience! The temple has a lot to see for all the seasons! Even when it is busy, there are a lot of seating options and shade to keep out of the sun. Definitely worth visiting if you are in the area!

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.

Today, I went to Hondoji Temple for an afternoon walk. It's was easy to get to from Kita-Kogane Station, around a 15-minute walk, depending on how quick you are. There weren't maybe people around, and the leaves were still nice and colourful. However, going late in December meant there was some maintenance work ongoing, so some areas were a little noisy. Overall, it's a great location to visit. If you want to see more of Japan, I also have full walking videos on my YouTube channel (Kona-kun Walks). @Kona-kunnWalks

Large grounds with lots of trees and a big shallow pond for water plants. Lovely during fall colors. During peak times, the approach road has a couple of vendors selling unusual pickles and the other condiments for rice.

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What other travelers are saying about Hondoji Temple

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