Kosanji Temple

Kosanji (Kosanji Temple) is a Jodo Shinshu (Honganji-ha) temple founded by Kosanji Kosan. He took Buddhist vows and established the temple out of gratitude and to repay the kindness of his late mother; because of these origins, it is affectionately known as the "Temple of Mothers," a place to express thanks to all mothers. Construction was first proposed in Showa 10 (1935). Over many years, the temple complex was expanded repeatedly with additions such as corridors, the main hall, and the sohozo (treasure repository). In Showa 28 (1953), the Kosanji Museum opened. Because Kosanji is a temple without parishioners, it is operated as a museum facility open to the public, funded through admission fees. The museum’s collection includes furnishings Kosan gathered to decorate his mother’s villa, as well as Buddhist statues and paintings collected with the museum’s opening in mind. Many items are designated as Important Cultural Properties or Important Art Objects, including Kaikei’s "Seated Amida Nyorai with Jeweled Crown," the "Eight-Lobed Bronze Mirror with Karahana and Mandarin Ducks," and the "Satake-bon Thirty-Six Immortal Poets: Ki no Tsurayuki." In addition, 15 halls and pagodas on the grounds are registered as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan. As Kosanji is located on Ikuchijima Island, access is about a 10-minute walk from Shin-Toda Port, about a 13-minute walk from Sawa Port (or 2 minutes by car). If using the Shimanami Kaido, take the Onomichi Bus Setoda Line from JR Onomichi Station (about 1 hour 14 minutes), then a taxi (about 40 minutes).