Zenkoji Temple

善光寺 · Buddhist temple

The temple's own English pages record that its history started in 642, when Yoshimitsu Honda enshrined a Buddhist image at the present site, and that the image was created in India and introduced into Japan via Paekche in 552. The temple states that the image has been believed to lead all the people to the Buddhist Pure Land regardless of their status, gender or creed.

The temple records that the main image was completely hidden from the people in 654, and that since then no one has ever been allowed to see it. The temple gives separate tickets for the main hall inner sanctuary with Okaidan Meguri, for the Sanmon gate and for the sutra repository, as well as one combined ticket.

Hours

The times and charges below are the ones the temple publishes itself.

Main hall inner sanctuary — opening	One hour before the morning serviceZenkoji Temple — the temple's own visitor information
Main hall inner sanctuary — closing	16:30 April to October, 16:15 March and November, 16:00 December to FebruaryZenkoji Temple — the temple's own visitor information
Sanmon gate, sutra repository and history museum	9:00–16:00Zenkoji Temple — the temple's own visitor information
31 December	Until 13:00Zenkoji Temple — the temple's own visitor information

Admission

Combined ticket (main hall inner sanctuary, Okaidan Meguri, Sanmon gate, sutra repository, history museum) — adults	1,500 yen
Combined ticket — junior and senior high school students	600 yen
Combined ticket — primary school students	200 yen
Main hall inner sanctuary and Okaidan Meguri — adults	800 yen
Sanmon gate — adults	800 yen
Sutra repository — adults	500 yen
Pre-school children	Free

Zenkoji Temple — the temple's own visitor information

Getting there

JR Nagano Station, Zenkoji exit bus rotary, stop 1 — about 15 minutes to the Zenkoji Daimon stop, 190 yen
Zenkoji Daimon bus stop to the main hall — about 5 minutes on foot

Address: 491-i Nagano-Motoyoshicho, Nagano City, Nagano 380-0851

Zenkoji Temple — the temple's own directions page

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Sources

History and background	Zenkoji Temple — the temple's own English pages
What you can see, Main hall inner sanctuary — opening, Main hall inner sanctuary — closing, Sanmon gate, sutra repository and history museum, 31 December, Admission	Zenkoji Temple — the temple's own visitor information
Getting there	Zenkoji Temple — the temple's own directions page

Information checked: September 10, 2026.