It is the first temple in Oki island and it built in 8th century by a Japanese emperor at the time. It's located next to the Mo-Mo dome and visitors pay for entrance fee.
This is the temple where Emperor Godaigo is said to have been exiled. I visited after a heavy snowfall, so there was no one else there but me, and the surrounding area was completely covered in snow, making the tranquility and sacredness of the place particularly striking.
It felt like I was traveling back in time.
I highly recommend this temple. Thank you.
From an excerpt...
The area behind the main hall of the Oki Kokubunji Temple grounds was designated a national historic site in 1934 (Showa 9) as the site of Emperor Godaigo's temporary residence after his exile.
The neatly arranged foundation stones of the Great Gate and the main hall evoke memories of the past.
There is a stone monument marking the site of Emperor Godaigo's temporary residence and a sign explaining that Emperor Godaigo resided here for approximately one year from 1532.
The main hall was destroyed by fire in 2007 (Heisei 19).
Excavations conducted in 2009 (Heisei 21) in conjunction with the reconstruction uncovered remains believed to be the site of the old Kokubunji temple.
The current main hall was rebuilt in 2014 (Heisei 26).
The Renge-e Mai dance, held every year on April 21st, has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the national government as it preserves an ancient style.
The Renge-e Mai Hall on the temple grounds displays materials on the Renge-e Mai dance, a performance stage, roof tiles from the Nara period, and materials related to Emperor Godaigo.
When I visited, there was no one there, so I paid the admission fee as an offering. The building was more beautiful than I expected. It seems that they also have a goshuin stamp, but unfortunately I decided not to get one.
This temple is one of the Kokubunji temples built throughout Japan following the "Edict for the Construction of Kokubunji Temples" issued by Emperor Shomu in 741 (Heisei 13).
Towards the end of the Kamakura period, Emperor Go-Daigo, defeated in the Genko War of 1332 (Genko 2), was exiled to Oki Island, and it is said that he used Oki Kokubunji Temple as his temporary residence.
However, since the Kuroki Imperial Palace on Nishinoshima Island is also known as a possible temporary residence of the emperor, the actual location of the temporary residence remains unclear.
The grounds of Oki Kokubunji Temple, specifically the area behind the main hall, were designated a national historic site in 1934 (Showa 9) as the site of Emperor Go-Daigo's temporary residence during his exile.
The neatly arranged foundation stones of the main gate and main hall evoke the atmosphere of the past.
There was a stone monument marking the site of Emperor Go-Daigo's temporary residence, and a sign explaining that Emperor Go-Daigo resided there for about a year starting in 1332 (Genkō 2).
In 2007 (Heisei 19), the main hall was destroyed by fire.
Excavation surveys conducted from 2009 (Heisei 21) in conjunction with the reconstruction uncovered remains believed to be those of the former Kokubunji temple.
The current main hall was rebuilt in 2014 (Heisei 26).
The Renge-e Mai dance, performed annually on April 21st, is designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property for preserving ancient styles.
The "Renge-e no Yakata" (Renge-e Hall) on the temple grounds displays materials related to the Renge-e Mai dance, the performance stage, roof tiles from the Nara period, and materials related to Emperor Go-Daigo.
