Overview
Toko-ji is an old Buddhist temple in the port district of Buzenda-machi in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Tradition holds that it was founded in 1199 by the monk Mongaku, an influential figure of the early Kamakura period, and its principal image of Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha, is said to have been carved by Prince Shotoku. Close to the heart of Shimonoseki near the Kanmon Strait, it is an easy stop for travelers exploring the city's history.
Highlights
- ●The revered Yakushi Nyorai image said to be carved by Prince Shotoku
- ●A founding tradition dating to 1199 under the monk Mongaku
- ●Its role as a stop on the Forty-nine Yakushi Temples of Chugoku pilgrimage
- ●A quiet precinct set near the port city of Shimonoseki
History
According to temple tradition, Toko-ji dates back to 1199, with the monk Mongaku, who took vows after the wars between the Genji and Heike clans, honored as its founder. Its main object of worship, the statue of Yakushi Nyorai, is said to be the work of Prince Shotoku of the Asuka period and has long been revered as a Buddha who heals illness. The temple is counted among the Forty-nine Yakushi Nyorai Temples of Chugoku, a pilgrimage route devoted to relief from sickness. Both the founding date and the origin of the image are cherished as accounts handed down within the temple.
Access
The temple stands in Buzenda-machi, Shimonoseki, near 33.95 degrees north and 130.93 degrees east. It lies close to central Shimonoseki, an area well served by rail and local buses. Pairing a visit with sightseeing along the Kanmon Strait makes for an easy route. Please check official sources for current visiting hours and transport details.
Best season
The temple offers a calm visit throughout the year. As a hall dedicated to the Medicine Buddha, it takes on a especially quiet dignity during the New Year visits and around the Yakushi feast days. For pairing with a stroll through the port town, the mild weather of spring and autumn is the most comfortable for walking.
Map
33.9529, 130.9292 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Head from central Shimonoseki to Toko-ji and begin at the main hall before the Medicine Buddha
- 2Walk the precinct and reflect on the temple's Kamakura-era origins
- 3Note the pilgrimage records or temple seal as one of the Forty-nine Yakushi Temples
- 4Continue afterward to sightseeing along the Kanmon Strait in Shimonoseki
Did you know?
💡 One of Toko-ji's most distinctive features is the tradition that its principal Yakushi Nyorai image was carved by Prince Shotoku. The Medicine Buddha has been venerated since ancient times as a healer, and the temple's place among the Forty-nine Yakushi Temples of Chugoku reflects the long pilgrimage history of those who sought that blessing.
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