Taisen-in

Taisen-in is a Zen temple in Hachinohe featuring traditional Japanese architecture with a prominent main gate and a lotus pond. The grounds include several buildings and landscaped areas, with the pond blooming with flowers in late summer and creating a focal point of the temple's layout.

The Niida family built this temple during the Edo period, with the main gate constructed before 1811. The structure represents an important example of regional Buddhist heritage from that era.

This temple belongs to the Soto school of Zen Buddhism, and visitors can observe meditation practices and local spiritual traditions that remain active today. The grounds and buildings show how the community maintains these religious values through daily use and seasonal rituals.

The temple is about 20 minutes by car from Hachinohe Station and offers parking for visitors. Two bus stops are located within a 5-minute walk, making it accessible by public transport.

Memorial structures on the grounds preserve the Great Tenmei Famine of 1782-1788 through detailed stone engravings. These carvings tell the story of a regional disaster that remains part of the local memory.