The head temple of the Kogakuji branch of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism, the temple was founded in 1552 by Zen Master Butai Tokusho (Zen Master Eko Daien), and by the then guardian Takeda Gyobu Daifu Nobunari, who established the temple in the year 2 of the Koryaku era. Over its long history of over 600 years since its founding, the temple has suffered repeated fires and wars, but many cultural assets have been preserved and passed down to the present day, including the National Treasure "Colored Silk Painting of Bodhidharma." As it is a training center, the nationally designated garden and various halls are not open to the public. There is a hiking trail on the grounds that leads to Mt. Shionoyama.
It is the head temple of the Kogakuji branch of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism and serves as a training center. While the grounds are open to the public, there are no services for tourists, and visitors are not permitted inside the halls, nor are they allowed to view the temple treasures, including the National Treasure "Colored Silk Painting of Daruma," nor are they allowed to visit the gardens, which have been designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty. The "Colored Silk Painting of Daruma" is on loan to the Tokyo National Museum, so it is not at Kogakuji Temple in the first place.
Although it lacks everything, the grounds have a dignified atmosphere befitting a historic Zen temple. It's not bad. It's located between Erinji Temple, Takeda Shingen's family temple, and Enzan Station, making it a convenient stop-off point.
This Rinzai sect temple was founded during the Muromachi period and seems to have developed as a training center under the patronage of the Takeda clan. Public worshippers are not allowed inside the main hall and other buildings. The main hall has a large, dignified atmosphere.
Kogakuji Temple is a private temple, so the interior of the building and the garden at the back are generally not open to the public. I strolled through the garden in front of the Buddhist temple. The autumn leaves were beautiful.
The temple enshrines a statue of Shaka Nyōrai (Shakyamuni Buddha) as its principal image. This represents the historical Buddha and serves as the focal point for worship and meditation practices within the traditional Rinzai Zen framework.
As a Rinzai Zen temple, Kogakuji traditionally offers meditation practices, though availability for visitors may vary depending on the temple's schedule and religious observances. Interested visitors should contact the temple directly or check with local tourism offices to inquire about meditation session opportunities and any requirements for participation.
The temple is located in Kōshū city, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Visitors can reach the area by train to Kōshū city, followed by local transportation to the temple grounds. The specific route may require local buses or taxis from the nearest train station, so checking current transportation options before your visit is recommended.
As with all Japanese Buddhist temples, visitors should maintain respectful behavior including speaking quietly, bowing before entering temple buildings, not touching religious artifacts, and following photography restrictions. Remove hats and sunglasses when entering temple halls, and consider making a small monetary offering at the main hall as is customary. Since this is an active Zen temple, be particularly mindful not to disturb meditation or prayer sessions in progress.
