MAIN > Tourist Spots > Kosanji Temple and Museum   Kosanji Temple was founded by Koso Kosanji in 1936 (Showa 11), after he entered the priesthood to ensure his late mother's rebirth into the Buddhist paradise. This temple is located in the Setoda area of Onomichi, and it is associated with the Jodo Shinshu sect, Honganji division, of Buddhism. It took more than 30 years to construct, with many of the various structures being modeled on some of Japan's finest architectural monuments representative of the Asuka, Nara, Heian, Kamakura and Edo eras.   Pass through the outer gate, a replica of the Shinshinden Gate of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, to the Chumon Gate, fashioned after the Romon Gate of Horyuji Temple in Nara. Upon viewing the 500 statues of Buddhist saints in the Rakando Hall, built in the architectural style of the Momoyama era, one continues to the splendid Raihaido Hall. The most breathtaking works by far are the Koyo Gate, a reproduction of the Yomeimon Gate at Nikko Shrine, and the art pieces exhibited in the New Treasure House. The temple grounds span approximately 50,000 square meters.   Each season brings novelty to the gardens and surroundings of Kosanji Temple, filling it with evanescent beauty and harmony. It is indeed reminiscent of the Jodo sect paradise. Miraishin no Oka   The small hill that is located at the back of Kosanji Museum is the "Miraishin no Oka" (Hill of Hope), an experiment in environment molding that Kazuto Kuetani, a internationally famous sculptor made with the finest Italian white marble and granite. The Miraishin no Oka won the first prize in the international competition "Marble Architectural Awards 2005". Kosanji Temple and Museum Tel.: 0845-27-0800 E-mail: info@kousanji.or.jp Kosanji Museum Official Site Back
		Onomichi City Hall 15-1, Kubo 1-chome, Onomichi-shi, 722-8501 Tel.: 0848-25-7111    Fax.: 0848-37-2740