Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-07 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Kinzan Kōzan-ji in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, is a temple of the Sōtō school of Zen. It was first founded as a Rinzai temple by Kyoan Genjaku in 1327, late in the Kamakura period. Its Buddha hall, dated to 1320, is a National Treasure and the oldest surviving building in Japan in the Zenshūyō (Zen) style, which combines Japanese and Chinese Buddhist design. It is No. 19 of the Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.
Sumiyoshi Shrine is about 2.4 km away. We have not checked a public-transport route.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Kozanji Temple (Shimonoseki) — Wiki708 at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- 141122 Kozanji Shimonoseki Yamaguchi pref Japan16n — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- 141122 Kozanji Shimonoseki Yamaguchi pref Japan13n — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- 141122 Kozanji Shimonoseki Yamaguchi pref Japan11n — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- 141122 Kozanji Shimonoseki Yamaguchi pref Japan09s3 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- 141122 Kozanji Shimonoseki Yamaguchi pref Japan04n — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- 141122 Kozanji Shimonoseki Yamaguchi pref Japan03n — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
- 141122 Kozanji Shimonoseki Yamaguchi pref Japan01s3 — 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · source · resized
What this place is
The Kinzan Kōzan-ji (金山功山寺) is a temple of the Sōtō school of Zen faction in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It was first established as a temple of the Rinzai school by Kyoan Genjaku in 1327 of the late Kamakura era. Kōzan-ji's Butsuden, completed in 1320, is a National Treasure of Japan. This architecture in Zenshūyō (禅宗様) (aka Zen'yō) style (Zen style), combining Japanese and Chinese Buddhist design features. It is the oldest building designed in the Zenshūyō style that exists in Japan. The Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage No.19.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-07 · Official visitor information
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Getting there
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