Iō-ji Temple

Overview

Io-ji is a temple of the Shingon Buzan school in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture. Rooted in the esoteric Shingon tradition, its name Io, meaning King of Medicine, echoes an epithet of Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha who heals every illness. Set in the green countryside of Kanuma, it is a place of prayer with a calm atmosphere, well suited to travellers who wish to join their hands in quiet.

Highlights

• ●A temple of the Shingon Buzan school, whose head temple is Hase-dera in Nara
• ●A prayer for healing held in the name Io, an epithet of the medicine Buddha Yakushi
• ●A calm precinct rooted in Kanuma, a town of woodwork and soba
• ●A space of prayer where the changing nature of the four seasons can be savoured in quiet

History

Io-ji belongs to the Shingon Buzan school, which looks to Hase-dera in Nara as its head temple, and it carries on that school's esoteric teachings. Cherished by local people under the Shingon faith, the temple's name Io hints at a connection with devotion to Yakushi, the healing Buddha. For a fuller account of its founding and treasures, it is best to inquire at the temple or check official sources when you visit.

Map

36.4969, 139.7329 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head to Io-ji from Kanuma Station or Shin-Kanuma Station
2. 2Pay respects in the precinct and pray to Yakushi Nyorai for health and healing
3. 3Walk through Kanuma and sample local specialities such as woodwork and soba
4. 4Round off a day in Kanuma by visiting other nearby sights

Did you know?

💡 The Io in Io-ji, meaning King of Medicine, is an alternate title for Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha who cures illness. The temple's very name expresses a prayer for people's health and recovery. It is a serene old temple of the Shingon Buzan school in Kanuma.

Nearby spots