普門院

Fumonin is a Buddhist temple in Yonezawa founded in 853 by Priest Eikei and situated along a former trading route. The site features traditional architecture arranged around a quiet courtyard with several connected buildings.

The temple was founded in 853 and served as an important waypoint along the route to Edo for centuries. A fire destroyed the original buildings in 1796, after which they were reconstructed and later designated a National Historic Site in 1935.

The temple preserves the room where Lord Uesugi Harunori welcomed his mentor Hosoi Heishu, along with original teaware and wooden buckets from their meeting. These objects show how important encounters took place in that era.

The temple is about a 10-minute walk from Sekine Station and has parking available nearby. Wear sturdy shoes as the site sits on slightly elevated ground with several steps to navigate around the grounds.

The temple houses the Ichiji Ichirui monument with inscribed text documenting the relationship between Lord Uesugi and his teacher. This stone marker is one of the few remaining records of this famous mentorship from the Edo period.

Location: Yonezawa

GPS coordinates: 37.86393,140.14210

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:40