Enjoy safflower culture
Honzan Jion-ji Temple
This ancient temple is said to have been founded during the Nara Period (710-794) on the orders of Emperor Shomu. During the Edo Period (1603-1868), Honzan Jion-ji Temple was the most powerful in the Tohoku region, controlling a vast territory producing some 507,259 liters of rice. Structures standing within the temple precinct include the Main Hall—a National Important Cultural Property—Sanmon Gate, Yakushi-do hall, and a three-storied pagoda, solemnly marking the passage of time. Buddhist statues dating from the Heian (794–1185) and Kamakura (1185–1333) periods have been designated as Important Cultural Properties as Buddhist art treasures. The lips of the statue of Maitreya Bodhisattva, the temple’s principal object of worship (not on public display), are painted a bright vermillion as if lipstick has been applied, infusing the statue with vitality.
| Address | 31 Oaza Jion-ji Chiseki, Sagae City |
| Opening hours | 8:30～16:00 |
| Fees | 500 yen (300 yen/person for groups of 15 or more) From April 1, 2020: 700 yen (600 yen/person for groups of 15 or more) |
| Car parking | Free: No. 1 Car Park 6 large vehicle parking spaces 25 regular vehicle parking spaces 2 disabled parking spaces Free: No. 2 Car Park 4 large vehicle parking spaces 38 regular vehicle parking spaces 2 disabled parking spaces 1 small vehicle parking spaces |
| Barrier-free facilities | Multi-function toilet: available |
| Inquiries | TEL：0237-87-3993 HP：http://www.honzan-jionji.jp |
| Access | A 20-minute walk from JR Uzen-Takamatsu Station A 12-minute drive from JR Sagae Station A 15-minute drive from Sagae Interchange A 20-minute drive from Yamagata Airport |
Recommended points/experiences
Honzan Jion-ji Temple enables you to come face-to-face with precious Buddhist statues dating from the Heian and Kamakura periods, surrounded in silence. Here you can experience moments to calm the heart and mind far removed from the hustle and bustle of town, as well as your daily worries and stress.
Access from Yama-dera
[Senzan Line]
Yamadera Station ⇒ Yamagata Station (approx. 20 minutes)
[Aterazawa Line]
Yamagata Station⇒Uzen-Takamatsu Station (approx. 40 minutes)
[Walking]
Approx. 20-minute walk from Uzen-Takamatsu Station
Google Map
Nearby site/facility information
From the three parks in the hilly area behind the temple’s Main Hall you can see a spectacular panoramic view of the Yamagata Basin and Zao Mountain Range. From mid-June to early July, large numbers of fireflies dance along the nearby Tasawa River, while Honzan Jion-ji Temple’s glorious lotus flowers bloom from mid-July to mid-September. From the end of September until early October is the best time to view the red spider lilies growing around the Main Hall in full bloom.
| Restaurants, Eateries | Jion-ji Jinya traditional Japanese restaurant, Tokobo handmade buckwheat noodles shop |
| Hotels, Japanese-style inns | Hotel Sun Cherry, Kokoro-no-Yado Ichiryu, Kapporyokan Yoshimoto, Hotel Symphony |