Overview
Genshoji is a Soto Zen temple in Otawara, Tochigi Prefecture. Its mountain name is Subosan, and its full title is Subosan Rurikoin Genshoji; it enshrines Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha, as its principal image. A quiet old temple set in the Nasu plain, it is known as a temple associated with Nasu no Yoichi, the celebrated archer who struck the fan target at the Battle of Yashima. With an air of history and legend, its grounds make a serene stop well worth visiting on a journey through the Nasu region.
Highlights
- ●An old temple handed down as a site linked to Nasu no Yoichi
- ●A Soto Zen main hall enshrining the Medicine Buddha, Yakushi Nyorai
- ●The dignified names Subosan and Rurikoin
- ●The quiet atmosphere of grounds set in the Nasunogahara plain
History
Genshoji is a temple of the Soto Zen school, bearing the mountain name Subosan and the full designation Subosan Rurikoin Genshoji. Its principal image is Yakushi Nyorai, revered as a Buddha who heals illness and suffering. The temple has been handed down as a site linked to Nasu no Yoichi, famed for shooting down the fan target from a rocking boat at the Battle of Yashima during the Genpei War. For details of its founding and its ties to the Nasu clan, please consult the on-site notices or official information.
Access
The temple lies in Otawara, Tochigi Prefecture, in a corner of the Nasunogahara plain. Nasu-Shiobara Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen and Nishi-Nasuno Station on the JR Tohoku Main Line serve as gateways to the area, from which access by car or bus is usual. Please check detailed routes and parking information through official sources before your visit.
Best season
Spring, when the greenery of the grounds buds forth, and autumn, wrapped in clear air, are pleasant seasons. The Nasu plain, with views toward the Nasu mountains, has its own charm in each season, and New Year visits and memorial services bring lively crowds of worshippers. Winter can be bitterly cold, so dressing warmly is advisable.
Map
36.8019, 140.0575 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Head toward Otawara from Nasu-Shiobara or Nishi-Nasuno Station
- 2Visit Genshoji and pray before the principal image, Yakushi Nyorai
- 3Reflect on the legends surrounding Nasu no Yoichi
- 4Tour the surrounding Nasu plain and enjoy a historical stroll
Did you know?
💡 This temple is known for its ties to Nasu no Yoichi, the master archer said to have pierced a fan target swaying atop a boat at the Battle of Yashima. Its principal image, Yakushi Nyorai, is also called the Buddha of Lapis Lazuli Radiance, a name echoed in the temple's full title Rurikoin (Hall of Lapis Lazuli Light).
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