Ōjō-ji Temple

Overview

Ojo-ji is a temple of the Jodo (Pure Land) sect in Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. Its mountain name is Anrakuzan and its temple-hall name is Bodaiin, and it enshrines Amida Nyorai as its principal image. Known as the inner sanctuary (oku-no-in) of Zenko-ji, it sits on a hill a little apart from the bustle of the temple town, offering a quiet place to face the Pure Land devotion to Amida.

Highlights

• ●Its standing as the inner sanctuary of Zenko-ji
• ●Pure Land prayer offered to the principal image, Amida Nyorai
• ●A history said to reach back to 1199
• ●Views over Nagano from the hilltop grounds

History

Temple tradition traces its history back to 1199, and it has long walked the path of a Pure Land temple. Bearing the mountain name Anrakuzan and the hall name Bodaiin, its principal image is Amida Nyorai, before whom people have prayed for rebirth in the Pure Land. Its standing as the inner sanctuary of Zenko-ji shows how deeply it has been tied to Zenko-ji faith.

Map

36.6658, 138.1772 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head toward Zenko-ji from JR Nagano Station
2. 2Pay your respects at the Zenko-ji main hall
3. 3Climb the hill to the inner sanctuary, Ojo-ji
4. 4Enjoy the view, then head to the temple-town cuisine

Did you know?

💡 Its role as the inner sanctuary of Zenko-ji is the special appeal of this temple. Rather than ending your visit at the Zenko-ji main hall alone, extending your walk to Ojo-ji lets you experience the deeper breadth of Zenko-ji faith.

Nearby spots