Kozenji

Kozenji is a Buddhist temple complex in Kawachinagano featuring a main hall called the Hondo and supporting structures set among tall cedar trees. The natural pathways created by the forest setting connect the various buildings and grounds throughout the property.

This temple was founded centuries ago and continues to preserve its original structures that reflect the architectural traditions of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism. The ongoing maintenance of these historic buildings demonstrates the continuity of this religious lineage.

The temple hosts regular Buddhist ceremonies and meditation sessions that visitors can observe, keeping alive the daily spiritual practices of the Zen tradition. These activities show how the community maintains its religious life within the temple grounds.

The temple grounds are open daily from sunrise to sunset and are easily reached via direct bus connections from Kawachinagano Station. Visitors should wear comfortable walking shoes since the forest pathways can be uneven and require steady footing.

A three-story pagoda stands on the grounds and houses Achala, the temple's principal deity and an important figure in Buddhist iconography. This pagoda is the only structure of its kind in the southern Nagano region.