Suo Kokubunji Temple

Suo Kokubunji is one of the official provincial temples established throughout Japan in 741 by order of Emperor Shomu. Founded with the prayer that “the nation may be at peace, its people joyful, calamities dispelled, and blessings bestowed,” the temple is said to have prayed for the people's happiness, protection from the epidemics and warfare prevalent at the time, and abundant harvests. It is a special head temple of the Koyasan Shingon school of Buddhism, and its principal image is Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of Healing.

The temple declined for a time during the Heian period. Interest in restoring it arose during the Kamakura period, when Suo Province was designated to provide revenue for Todai-ji, the head temple of the provincial temple system. It was subsequently preserved under the protection of the Ouchi and Mori clans. Suo Kokubunji is extremely rare in Japan for retaining almost all of its original temple grounds. It is the country's only provincial temple whose former precincts are designated a National Historic Site.

The Niomon Gate and Main Hall seen today were built at later dates. However, archaeological excavations have shown that the Main Hall was reconstructed in its original location using foundation stones from the temple's founding. The hall is also designated an Important Cultural Property. The temple grounds also contain a memorial monument honoring members of the local Kokubunji Unit who died in the Kinmon Incident of 1864.