Motozenkō-ji

Motozenkō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Iida that includes several buildings on landscaped grounds with gardens and a bell tower. A treasure hall on the site displays religious objects and statues from different periods of the temple's history.

The temple was founded in 602 during the reign of Empress Suiko and originally housed the principal statue now enshrined at Zenkōji in Nagano. This connection to early Buddhist times makes it one of the oldest religious sites in the Shinano region.

The grounds preserve the ritual of Kaidan-meguri, where visitors walk through total darkness beneath the main hall and search for a sacred lock by touch. This meditative experience symbolically represents the path to enlightenment and requires trust in one's senses without any visual guidance.

The temple sits about five minutes on foot from Motozenkōji Station and offers a free parking area for 100 vehicles. The treasure hall opens daily between 9 AM and 4:30 PM for visitors.

The temple grounds hold a 350-year-old weeping cherry tree designated as a cultural property of Nagano Prefecture. The tree blooms in spring and draws visitors who come to admire its drooping branches and dense cloud of pink blossoms.