Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-04 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Chūson-ji, in Hiraizumi in southern Iwate, is the head temple of the Tendai school in the Tōhoku region. The temple dates its own founding to 850, by Ennin, the school's third chief abbot; the historian George Sansom credits Fujiwara no Kiyohira, in 1095. It became a Special Historic Site in 1979, and in 2011 it was listed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Monuments and Sites of Hiraizumi”.
Hiraizumi Station is about 2 km away in a straight line. Other parts of the Hiraizumi heritage are close by: Takadachi Gikeido is about 1 km off, Kinkeizan 1.4 km and Motsu-ji Temple 1.6 km. We have not checked opening hours or fees.
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
- 230728 Chusonji Hiraizumi Iwate pref Japan01s3 — 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- This building used to shelter the Konjikido (golden hall) from wind and rain. The konjikido is on display in a modern building (and is more gilded than the Golden Pavilion), but you can't take photos. (7340276826) — KimonBerlin · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · resized
- Kyozo (former sutra repository) - Chusonji, Hiraizumi, Iwate - DSC04963 — Daderot · CC0 · source · resized
- Konjikido-Ooido — 竹麦魚(Searobin) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Chuson-ji Sankozo Museum 01 — Tak1701d · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Chuson-ji Noh Stage 03 — Tak1701d · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Chuson-ji Hondo 201806 — Tak1701d · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Chuson-ji Konjiki-do 02 — Tak1701d · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- 中尊寺ハス - panoramio — merupapa · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Chūson-ji (中尊寺) is a Buddhist temple in the town of Hiraizumi in southern Iwate Prefecture, Japan. It is the head temple of the Tendai sect in Tōhoku region of northern Honshu. The temple claims it was founded in 850 by Ennin, the third chief abbot of the sect. George Sansom states Chūson-jí was founded by Fujiwara no Kiyohira in 1095. Chūson-jí was designated as a Special Historic Site in 1979 and in June 2011 was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a part of the "Historic Monuments and Sites of Hiraizumi".
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-04 · Official visiting information
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Nearby station
Nearby station: Hiraizumi (Tōhoku Main Line), about 2.0 km from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-14 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
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