明星院

Myojo-in is a Shingon Buddhist temple of the Chizan sect located in Kurata district of Okegawa city, featuring traditional wooden architecture including the main hall, bell tower, and Niomon gate surrounded by ancient trees.

Founded in 1378 by monk Ryuson, the temple received official recognition and a ten-koku rice stipend from Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1591, serving as one of the eleven major Shingon Buddhist learning centers in the Kanto region during the Edo period.

The temple houses precious cultural artifacts including gold lacquerware dining sets, gold folding screens, and historical documents from the Sengoku and Edo periods, some of which were personally bestowed by Tokugawa Ieyasu himself.

Located at 150 Kurata, Okegawa city, the temple can be accessed via JR Okegawa Station using local buses or on foot, with visits typically arranged during special exhibitions or designated open days throughout the year.

The temple features the legendary Myojo no Ido well where founder Ryuson reportedly received divine inspiration from the morning star during his spiritual training, giving the temple its distinctive name meaning Star Temple.