Hōnen-ji Temple

Overview

Hōnen-ji is a temple of the Jōdo (Pure Land) sect in Ise-machi, Seki City, Gifu Prefecture, with the mountain name Nichiyōzan. Its principal image is Amida Nyorai. As the seventh stop on the Chūnō Eighty-Eight Sacred Sites pilgrimage, it makes an easy, contemplative pause for travelers exploring Seki, Japan's famous city of blades.

Highlights

• ●A quiet Pure Land temple enshrining Amida Nyorai
• ●The seventh stop on the Chūnō Eighty-Eight Sacred Sites pilgrimage
• ●The rare Mameki (bean-tree) Jizō in the side hall
• ●Founding tradition linked to the Pure Land patriarch Hōnen

History

According to temple tradition, the priest Hōnen once preached at a Jizō hall near present-day Hinode-machi in Seki during the Jishō era, and this connection inspired the temple's founding. It was established in 1423 by Bunrei, an eighth-generation religious descendant of Hōnen. Though the exact date is uncertain, the temple is thought to have moved to its current site during the Edo period, and in 1773 it became a branch temple of Mandara-ji in Owari.

Map

35.4863, 136.9218 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Pass through the gate and pay respects to Amida Nyorai in the main hall
2. 2Visit the side hall to learn the tale of the Mameki Jizō
3. 3Stroll the quiet grounds and reflect on its history since 1423
4. 4Continue afterward into Seki's town center and its cutlery traditions

Did you know?

💡 A side hall enshrines the unusual Mameki Jizō, said to have been carved from a bean plant that grew into a large tree. This gentle folk legend makes it a memorable figure among the many Jizō statues of the region.

Nearby spots