Chōhō-ji, Buddhist temple in Kainan, Japan
Chōhō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kainan with multiple buildings including a main hall, a five-tiered Tahōtō pagoda, and a large Daimon gate. The main structures were built across different periods between the Kamakura and Nanboku-chō eras.
The temple was founded around 1000 by a disciple of Ennin at the request of Emperor Ichijō. It was later relocated to its current location during the Kamakura period, where it has remained since.
The temple grounds feature around 330 stone tōrō lanterns that create a distinctive visual landscape. These lanterns frame a large burial ground where members of the Kishū Tokugawa clan rest.
The temple is accessible by car in roughly nine minutes from Shimotsu Station on the JR West Kisei Main Line. This makes it convenient for travelers arriving by train in the area.
In 1672, the temple received an estate donation from Tokugawa Mitsusada to secure its long-term operation. This patronage allowed the site to maintain and preserve its buildings through the centuries.
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