Religious sites in Tohoku region

Tohoku's Sacred Sites

The Tohoku region preserves centuries of Japanese spiritual history through its diverse Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. This collection includes the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Hiraizumi, featuring the gold-leafed Konjikidō, and the Zen temples of Matsushima. From the Momoyama-style architecture of Sendai's Osaki Hachiman Shrine to the remote mountain setting of Iwakiyama Shrine, these sites showcase unique regional craftsmanship and serene landscapes that have served as pilgrimage destinations for generations.

Tohoku's Sacred Sites — Map

竹麦魚(Searobin) / CC-BY-SA-3.0

A

Chūson-ji

Chūson-ji is a Buddhist temple in the town of Hiraizumi in southern Iwate Prefecture, Japan.

Nerotaso / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Mōtsū-ji

Mōtsū-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Tendai sect in the town of Hiraizumi in southern Iwate Prefecture, Japan, and also refers to the…

竹麦魚(Searobin) / CC-BY-SA-3.0

C

Golden Hall

A 12th-century mausoleum within Chūson-ji, this hall is entirely covered in gold leaf and decorated with intricate mother-of-pearl inlay. It houses the remains of the leaders of the Northern Fujiwara clan and is a designated National Treasure.

Kumamushi / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Entsu-in

Entsū-in is a Buddhist temple located in the town of Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

Jrissman / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Zuigan-ji Temple

Seiryuzan Zuigan-ji is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple in located in the town of Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

ジダネ / Public domain

F

Osaki Hachiman Shrine

Ōsaki Hachimangū is a Shinto shrine in Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.

G

両津八幡神社

A Shinto shrine located in the Akita region dedicated to the deity Hachiman.

Ow00wo / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

長者山新羅神社

Located atop Mount Chojasan in Hachinohe, this shrine is a central site for the Hachinohe Sansha Taisai festival and the Enburi folk dance, both designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties.

ChiefHira / CC BY-SA 3.0

I

Aoso Jinja

The head shrine of all Aoso and Sanko shrines in Japan, this site is dedicated to the deities of the sun, moon, and stars. It historically served as a place of worship for those seeking protection against ailments.

掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

天寧寺

A Soto Zen temple in the historic samurai district of Kakunodate. It was founded by the Tozawa clan and features traditional Buddhist architecture and the graves of the Satake North house.

Kochizufan / CC BY-SA 4.0

K

普門寺

A Rinzai Zen temple featuring a Kannon-do hall that serves as the first station of the Iwaki 33 Kannon pilgrimage. The grounds house a wooden seated statue of Nyoirin Kannon, an important local cultural property.

ChiefHira / CC BY-SA 3.0

L

Koganeyama Jinja

The Koganeyama Jinja is a Shintō shrine in the town of Wakuya Tōda District, Miyagi Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan.

あおもりくま (aomorikuma) / CC-BY-SA-3.0

M

Iwakiyama Shrine

Iwakiyama Shrine is a Shintō shrine in the city of Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. It is the ichinomiya of former Tsugaru Domain.

Urashimataro / Public domain

N

Chosho-Ji Temple

The family temple of the Tsugaru clan, this Soto Zen site features a massive 17th-century Sanmon gate and a Zen hall, both designated as National Important Cultural Properties.

Saigen Jiro / CC0

O

安積国造神社

A historic Shinto shrine in Koriyama dedicated to the ancestral deity of the Asaka region. It is the focal point for the annual Asaka Kunitsuko Festival featuring traditional portable shrine processions.

Other Lists

Tōhoku's Essential Journey Tohoku Viewpoints and Peaks Tohoku Castles Tohoku Heritage Sites Tohoku Parks and Nature