Kai Zenkoji Temple

Step into a temple history tied to Takeda Shingen, founded in Eiroku 1 (1558) by the Sengoku-era warlord of Kai (present-day Yamanashi Prefecture). Concerned that Zenkoji Temple in Nagano might be destroyed by fire during the Battles of Kawanakajima, he moved the principal image of Amida Nyorai and other Buddhist treasures to Kofu—this move marked the beginning of the temple. Even after the fall of the Takeda clan, it continued to receive generous protection from Tokugawa Ieyasu and others.

The bell-hammer-style Main Hall is an impressive structure, with a total height of 27 m and a total depth of 49 m, making it one of the largest wooden buildings in eastern Japan. Look up at the ceiling of the inner sanctuary and you’ll find a huge painted dragon; clap your hands, and the layered echoes build into a resonance known as the “Roaring Dragon,” said to be the largest of its kind in Japan. The Main Hall and the two-story Sanmon Gate are designated Important Cultural Properties. The temple also houses many other cultural assets, including Buddhist statues and historic buildings, offering plenty to see.

The on-site treasure museum also displays artifacts handed down at the temple, rotating exhibits as needed. Highlights include the wooden Amida Triad statue (an Important Cultural Property) and a carved statue of Minamoto no Yoritomo, considered Japan’s oldest.