Usu Zenkoji

photo by 高野博文 · CC BY-SA 4.0

One of only three official temples of Ezo (the old name of Hokkaido), designated in 1804.

The temple stands on a low hill overlooking Lake Usu, with a park of more than a thousand cherry trees that blossoms in spring and carries on with azaleas and hydrangeas. Founded according to tradition in 826 by the monk Ennin, it is one of only three ‘official temples’ that the Tokugawa shogunate (the military government of Japan until 1868) designated in 1804 for Ezo, the old name of Hokkaido.

Usu Zenkōji is, according to tradition, the oldest temple in Hokkaido: its founding in 826 by the monk Ennin is not historically documented, only handed down. In 1804 the Tokugawa shogunate chose it as one of only three official temples for Ezo (蝦夷三官寺), together with the Tōjuin in Samani and the Kokutaiji in Atsukeshi: a role that was also administrative, since the area did not yet have a stable civil government. It has been a national Historic Site since 1974 and part of Hokkaido Heritage since 2018. The treasure hall, open since 2011, displays more than 200 of the temple's possessions, of which 62 (17 printing blocks, 22 documents, 8 sacred texts and 15 paintings and ritual objects) have national Important Cultural Property status.

ℹ️ The treasure hall requires booking and a ticket; check its price and opening hours before your visit. The cherry tree park can be visited freely in spring.

🚉 Usu · 23 min walk

Sources: ja.wikipedia.org

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