Honkō-ji, Buddhist temple in Kōta, Japan.
Honkō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kota featuring buildings constructed in traditional Japanese style with wooden carvings showing Buddhist designs. The grounds are connected by stone pathways that link various halls and a large cemetery area.
The temple was founded in 1573 by Matsudaira Tadasada and served as the principal worship site for the Fukōzu-Matsudaira clan during the Edo period. This role made it a central place for the clan's spiritual and family life for centuries.
The cemetery here reflects the deep connection between the temple and the Fukōzu-Matsudaira clan, whose leaders were buried in this space over many generations. Walking through the graveyard gives visitors a sense of how this family shaped the area.
The grounds are best visited during summer months when the hydrangea bushes bloom and create a colorful display. Wearing comfortable walking shoes is advisable since stone pathways and uneven terrain cover the site.
Archaeological excavations in 2008 surprisingly uncovered a Bohemian crystal cup dating to 1599 beneath a fallen tombstone. This discovery reveals that the site had international trade connections during the Edo period.
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