Temples and shrines in Chubu Region

Sacred Sites of Japan

This collection spans Japan's Chubu region, featuring historically significant sites from the 7th-century Zenkoji in Nagano to the ancient Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya, which houses the sacred sword Kusanagi. The list highlights architectural diversity, including the 'Ninja Temple' (Myoryuji) with its hidden passages, the rock-cut meditation caves of Natadera, and Eihei-ji, a primary center for Soto Zen Buddhism. Many sites, such as Kunouzan Toshogu and Kawaguchi Asama, are integral to Japan’s national heritage and the spiritual history of Mount Fuji.

Sacred Sites of Japan — Map

Moris B. Zarco / CC-BY-SA

A

Hida Kokubunji Temple

Hida Kokubun-ji is a Shingon-sect Buddhist temple in the Sowamachi neighborhood of the city of Takayama, Gifu, Japan.

Lombroso / Public domain

B

Tentoku-in

This 17th-century temple is surrounded by a charming garden which you can enter through a beautifully decorated gate.

KimonBerlin / CC BY-SA 2.0

C

Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine

This Takayama shrine hosts the autumn Takayama Festival. Its grounds include the Yatai Kaikan, a museum displaying 17th-century festival floats designated as Important Interactive Folk Cultural Properties.

Irina Gelbukh / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Myôryûji (Ninjadera Temple)

Myōryū-ji, commonly known as Ninja-dera, is a Buddhist temple belonging to Nichiren sect located in the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.

Saigen Jiro / CC0

E

Atsuta Shrine

Atsuta Shrine is a Shinto shrine traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō located in Atsuta-ku,…

Saigen Jiro / CC0

F

Kawaguchi Asama Shrine

Established in 865 to appease Mount Fuji after a major eruption, this UNESCO World Heritage site features seven ancient cedar trees estimated to be over 1,200 years old. It is a key component of the Fujisan cultural heritage area.

くろふね / CC BY 3.0

G

Zenkoji temple

Zenkō-ji is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Nagano, Japan. The temple was built in the 7th century.

Bariston / CC BY-SA 4.0

H

Arako Kannon

Arako Kannon, also known as Jōkai-san Enryū-in Kannon-ji is a Buddhist temple located in Nagoya in central Japan.

I

Natadera Temple

Beautiful, tranquil temple surrounded by nature and rocky cliffs with hand-carved meditation caves. A perfect place for a serene walk.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

J

Eihei-ji

Eihei-ji is one of two main temples of the Sōtō school of Zen Buddhism, the largest single religious denomination in Japan.

Fraxinus2 / CC BY-SA 4.0

K

Zuiryū-ji

Zuiryū-ji is a Buddhist temple in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. The temple belongs to the Sōtō-school of Japanese Zen Buddhism.

百楽兎 / CC-BY-SA-3.0

L

Ataka Sumiyoshi Shrine

Located near the historic Ataka Barrier, this shrine is the setting for the famous Kabuki play Kanjincho. It is known for being dedicated to 'overcoming difficulties,' attracting those seeking success in challenging endeavors.

江戸村のとくぞう / CC BY-SA 4.0

M

Shizuoka Sengen Shrine

Shizuoka Sengen Jinja is the name for a collective group of three Shinto shrines now forming a single religious corporation, located at…

江戸村のとくぞう / CC BY-SA 4.0

N

Kunouzan Toshogu

The Kunōzan Tōshō-gū is a Shintō shrine in Suruga-ku in the city of Shizuoka in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

baggio4ever / CC BY 3.0

O

Gifudaibutsu (Shouhouji)

Shōhō-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Ōbaku school of Buddhism in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.

125.196.221.228 (Namazu-tron as a IP… / Public domain

P

Heisenji Hakusan Shrine

Heisenji Hakusan Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the city of Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.

Yusuke.ogawa / Public domain

Q

Daijōji Temple

If you want to learn something more about Zen meditation, this is the place to go.

Other Lists

Chubu Region: The Unmissable Journey Editor's Choice: Japan's Must-See Destinations Japan's Hidden Gems Japan's Best Viewpoints and Peaks Castles and Ruins of Japan Museums and Galleries of Japan Japan's Natural Water Wonders Bridges and Dams of Japan