Zenchoji Temple is a temple of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism located in Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture. Its mountain name is Koho-zan, and the temple is closely associated with the history of Tatebayashi Castle.
Founded during the Warring States period, Zenchoji has played an important role in the religious and cultural life of the local community for more than 500 years. Its grounds preserve historic buildings and sites, while beautiful daffodils bloom in spring. The temple also offers views toward Lake Jōnuma and Tsutsujigaoka Park, making it a pleasant destination for exploring Tatebayashi’s history.
Zenchoji was founded in May 1523 by Akai Ienori, the lord of Tatebayashi Castle at the time. It is said to have been established to pray for the repose of the spirit of his elder brother, Akai Nobuie.
The temple’s founding priest was the eminent Zen monk Daiun Ishun. Established as a place of Soto Zen practice, Zenchoji developed into an important spiritual center for the castle town of Tatebayashi amid the turmoil of the Warring States period.
During the Edo period, Zenchoji developed close connections with the Tokugawa family.
In 1623, when Shoshitsu-in-den, the mother of Tatebayashi Castle lord Matsudaira Tadatsugu, died, she was buried at Zenchoji. Tadatsugu was the grandson of Sakakibara Yasumasa, one of the famous Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa Ieyasu, and later became lord of Himeji Castle.
To pray for his mother’s soul, Tadatsugu granted Zenchoji a 50-koku estate. This landholding was maintained until the end of the Edo period and provided an important foundation for the temple’s continued existence and development.
During the reign of Tokugawa Iemitsu, additional land in the area corresponding to present-day Oomagari in Itakura was granted to the temple as officially recognized temple land. Zenchoji consequently received protection from the Tokugawa shogunate as an important religious institution.
Zenchoji is also associated with a famous local legend concerning the origins of Tsutsujigaoka Park, one of Tatebayashi’s best-known attractions.
During the early Edo period, Tatebayashi Castle lord Sakakibara Yasumasa is said to have had a beautiful concubine named Otsuji. She was deeply favored by Yasumasa, but according to the legend, other women at the castle became jealous and treated her harshly.
One day, Otsuji went boating on Lake Jōnuma with her attendant, Omatsu. The weather suddenly changed, however, and their small boat was caught in the rough waves.
Otsuji is said to have interpreted the disaster as the curse of the spirit believed to dwell in the lake. Determined to sacrifice herself, she threw herself into the water. Her attendant Omatsu is also said to have followed her into the lake.
Deeply saddened by their deaths, Sakakibara Yasumasa is said to have planted azalea bushes beside Lake Jōnuma to honor the two women. According to the legend, the azaleas gradually multiplied and spread, eventually becoming the origin of today’s Tsutsujigaoka Park.
The grounds of Zenchoji still contain a memorial monument for Otsuji and Omatsu. During the spring azalea season, visitors can pay their respects while reflecting on the story behind one of Tatebayashi’s most famous flower-viewing destinations.
The main hall of Zenchoji was newly constructed in 2017, marking approximately 500 years since the temple’s foundation. Built with the support of parishioners and local residents, the spacious hall includes seating, creating a comfortable environment where people can come to worship.
The temple’s Kannon Hall is believed to predate the founding of Zenchoji itself. According to tradition, it was built by the famous Zen monk Muso Soseki during the 1345–1350 period.
The hall enshrines an Eleven-Headed Kannon, a Buddhist figure traditionally worshipped as a protector of safe childbirth and children. There is also a tradition of lending red-and-white maternity sashes to expectant mothers.
The temple’s principal image, the Shō-Kanzeon Bosatsu, is considered a hidden Buddhist image and is publicly revealed only once every 60 years.
Zenchoji’s bell tower has experienced a long history that includes destruction by fire and the loss of its bell during wartime metal collection. It was eventually rebuilt with the support of the temple’s parishioners.
The present temple bell was also created through donations from many people, and its peaceful sound continues to resonate across the temple grounds.
Zenchoji also enshrines Jurojin, one of Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods. Jurojin is traditionally associated with longevity and is often depicted as an elderly man with a long head and white beard, carrying a staff or scroll and accompanied by a deer or crane.
Jurojin is also said to represent the South Pole Star, regarded in traditional belief as the star governing human lifespans. For this reason, he has long been worshipped by people wishing for long life and good health.
In spring, the temple’s Daffodil Path comes into bloom from around late March to early April. The delicate yellow and white flowers add a gentle seasonal beauty to the peaceful temple grounds.
The grounds contain the grave of Shoshitsu-in-den, the mother of Tatebayashi Castle lord Matsudaira Tadatsugu. The grave and its stone lantern have been designated as Historic Sites by Tatebayashi City and provide an important connection to the history of Tatebayashi during the early Edo period.
The temple grounds also preserve the Sanno-yama Tumulus, a keyhole-shaped burial mound built along the northern shore of Lake Jōnuma. It measures approximately 47 meters in length and about 5 meters in height, and has been designated as a historic site by Tatebayashi City.
The presence of an ancient burial mound alongside a temple with roots in the Warring States period is one of Zenchoji’s distinctive features, allowing visitors to encounter layers of local history from very different eras in one place.
Every year on April 8, Zenchoji holds a Flower Festival celebrating the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. A statue of the infant Buddha is placed in a flower-decorated pavilion, and visitors pour sweet tea over the statue as part of the traditional celebration.
Zenchoji also regularly holds Zen meditation sessions and sutra-copying sessions based on the teachings of the Soto school.
The meditation sessions are held on the morning of the fourth Saturday of each month, while sutra-copying sessions take place on the second Saturday of each month. Both are said to be open to anyone interested in participating.
One of the expressions closely associated with Soto Zen practice is “shikantaza”, meaning to simply sit in meditation with wholehearted attention. The teaching emphasizes that everyday life itself can be regarded as a form of practice.
Visitors therefore have the opportunity not only to learn about the temple’s history but also to experience an aspect of Japanese Zen culture.
Zenchoji Temple is located in Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture. By local bus, get off at the Children’s Science Museum-mae bus stop and walk for approximately 15 minutes.
The temple is also close to Lake Jōnuma and Tsutsujigaoka Park, making it convenient to combine a visit to Zenchoji with sightseeing and a historical walk around the surrounding area.
Zenchoji Temple is a historic temple with more than 500 years of history since its foundation during the Warring States period. Its connections with the Tokugawa family and Tatebayashi Castle, the legend surrounding the origins of Tsutsujigaoka Park, and its ancient tumulus and historic graves offer glimpses into different chapters of the area’s past.
In spring, the temple grounds are beautifully decorated with daffodils, while the azaleas of nearby Tsutsujigaoka Park add another seasonal highlight. A visit to Zenchoji provides a peaceful way to explore Tatebayashi’s history, culture, and natural beauty.