福徳寺

Overview

Fukutokuji is a temple of the Tendai school located in the Okawara-Wazo area of Oshika, a mountain village in southern Nagano Prefecture. Bearing the mountain name Ioizan, it sits in a quiet hamlet cradled by the foothills of the Southern Japanese Alps. The temple is best known for its main hall, which is designated an Important Cultural Property and conveys a sense of history amid its remote mountain setting.

Highlights

• ●The historic main hall, an Important Cultural Property
• ●A Tendai temple bearing the mountain name Ioizan
• ●Deep quiet of a hamlet at the western foot of the Southern Alps
• ●A sense of history rooted in the Okawara-Wazo settlement

History

As a temple of the Tendai school, Fukutokuji has long been part of the Okawara district of Oshika. Its main hall carries the national designation of Important Cultural Property, making it a precious example of old architecture preserved in a mountain community. For details on its founding and the age of the building, it is best to check on-site guidance or the official information of Oshika village.

Map

35.5502, 138.0532 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Drive into Oshika village and head for the Okawara district
2. 2Visit Fukutokuji to see its Important Cultural Property main hall
3. 3Stroll the surroundings while taking in the mountain scenery
4. 4Extend your trip to other village sights and Alpine views

Did you know?

💡 The mountain name Ioizan derives from Io, an epithet of the Healing Buddha Yakushi Nyorai, a name found at temples across Japan. The very remoteness of Oshika village is part of why such old cultural treasures have survived here to the present day.

Nearby spots