Overview
Kezo-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Shimogoyama, Shimotsuke City, Tochigi Prefecture, affectionately known as Shimotsuke Daishi, or Shimotsuke Yakuyoke Daishi, the great teacher of warding off misfortune. While its history reaches back to the Kamakura period, it also answers modern needs with pet memorial services and tree burials, and devotes real effort to cat rescue, making it a distinctive temple where tradition and the present coexist. Alongside worshippers seeking protection from ill fortune, a steady stream of visitors come simply to meet the resident cats.
Highlights
- ●Prayers against misfortune at the beloved Shimotsuke Yakuyoke Daishi
- ●The Nyan-Nyan Hall on the grounds, home to many cats
- ●A distinctive goshuin seal shaped after the cat deity
- ●A modern temple offering pet memorials and tree burials
History
Kezo-ji is said to have been founded around 1282 to 1283 in the Kamakura period, giving it a history of more than seven centuries. Long revered as a Daishi temple for warding off misfortune, it is popularly called Shimotsuke Yakuyoke Daishi. In recent years, while cherishing that heritage, it has taken up new endeavors such as pet memorials, tree burials, and cat protection, broadening its role to suit the times.
Access
It lies in Shimogoyama, Shimotsuke City, Tochigi Prefecture, around 36.45 north and 139.85 east. Located in the Shimotsuke area along the JR Utsunomiya Line, it is convenient to reach by car. As a Daishi temple for warding off misfortune, it draws many visitors at New Year and during the unlucky-age season. Please check official sources for details on access from the nearest station, parking, and opening hours.
Best season
The temple is especially lively from the New Year through the Setsubun period, when people come to pray against misfortune. To meet the resident cats, the warm, sunlit seasons when they laze about are the most pleasant. Event dates vary by year, so checking before your visit is recommended.
Map
36.4468, 139.8541 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Pray at the main hall for protection from misfortune and family safety
- 2Meet the cats living in the Nyan-Nyan Hall
- 3Receive the cat-deity goshuin seal
- 4Stroll the quiet grounds and take in the temple's history
Did you know?
💡 Within the grounds stands the Nyan-Nyan Hall, home to many cats, and the temple even grants a cat-deity goshuin seal. That it is a temple for warding off misfortune yet also known as a haven for cat lovers, wearing these two faces at once, is the charm unique to Kezo-ji.
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