Overview
Myoren-ji is a temple of the Nichiren sect located in Kominato, Kamogawa City, Chiba Prefecture. Its mountain name is Myonichi-zan. The temple is known as “Ryoshin-kaku,” a designated historic site of the Nichiren school, for it enshrines the graves of the parents of Nichiren, the founder of the sect. Nichiren gave his father the posthumous Buddhist name “Myonichi” and his mother the name “Myoren,” and both the mountain name and the temple name derive directly from these two names. Its former head temple is Tanjo-ji in Kominato, built on the site of Nichiren's birth. Quiet rather than showy, it suits travelers who wish to trace Nichiren's roots in a place of prayer.
Highlights
- ●Ryoshin-kaku, the graves of Nichiren's parents and a historic site of the Nichiren school
- ●The mountain name Myonichi-zan, derived from the father's Buddhist name Myonichi
- ●The temple name Myoren-ji, derived from the mother's Buddhist name Myoren
- ●An old temple of the Choshi lineage in Kominato, the place of Nichiren's birth
History
The very name of the temple preserves the story of Nichiren and his parents. Nichiren bestowed the Buddhist name “Myonichi” on his father, Nukina Shigetada (also handed down as Ii Shigetada), and the name “Myoren” on his mother, Umegiku. Myoren-ji was maintained as the temple caring for the memory of these parents, and their graves within the precinct came to be called Ryoshin-kaku, counted among the historic sites of the Nichiren school. Its former head temple was Tanjo-ji, the celebrated temple founded at the place of Nichiren's birth. The two temples are bound closely by the saint's life and lineage, and the Kominato area has long drawn pilgrims as sacred ground of Nichiren faith.
Access
The temple stands in Kominato, Kamogawa City, near the Sotobo coast of eastern Chiba, at roughly 35.12 degrees north and 140.20 degrees east, within the Kominato area regarded as Nichiren's birthplace. By public transport the nearest station is Awa-Kominato on the JR Sotobo Line, from which local buses or walking toward the Tanjo-ji area is the usual route. As opening hours, parking and visiting routes may change, please confirm the details through official sources before your visit.
Best season
Blessed by the mild climate of the Sotobo coast, the temple can be visited quietly throughout the year. The fresh green of spring and early summer along the sea, and the clear air of autumn, are pleasant seasons for combining a walk among Kominato's landmarks. Winters are comparatively warm, well suited to pausing in the sunlight to offer a quiet prayer.
Map
35.1219, 140.1998 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Set out from Awa-Kominato Station into the Kominato area to begin a tour of Nichiren's roots
- 2Visit Ryoshin-kaku at Myoren-ji and reflect on the origin of the mountain and temple names
- 3Also visit nearby Nichiren sites such as the former head temple Tanjo-ji
- 4Close the day of quiet pilgrimage in the sea breeze of the Sotobo coast
Did you know?
💡 The temple's most striking feature is that the father's Buddhist name “Myonichi” became the mountain name Myonichi-zan, and the mother's name “Myoren” became the temple name Myoren-ji. Simply reading the names conveys the devotion Nichiren felt for his parents.
Nearby spots
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