Zentsu-ji Temple
Zentsu-ji Temple
4.3
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.3
195 reviews
Excellent
89
Very good
88
Average
13
Poor
5
Terrible
0
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OHKSO
Hyogo Prefecture, Japan113,114 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
As expected of a large temple that is the head temple, there were many worshippers from early in the morning, even on a weekday.
I didn't come across any group tours, but there were many individual pilgrims, as well as many families and groups of tourists, making it one of the tourist attractions.
Incidentally, "Head Temple Zentsuji" is written all over the city, which may be to distinguish it from the name of the municipality.
I didn't come across any group tours, but there were many individual pilgrims, as well as many families and groups of tourists, making it one of the tourist attractions.
Incidentally, "Head Temple Zentsuji" is written all over the city, which may be to distinguish it from the name of the municipality.
Written March 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter J
Munich, Germany885 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Temple No. 75 on the Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail (shikoku hachijū hakkasho); an impressive temple complex - therefore unfortunately a bit overcrowded. There is a large parking lot for self-drivers. Unfortunately a bit overcrowded due to its fame.
Written March 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven R
Fukuoka, Japan200 contributions
Jan 2020
This is a very large temple and is highly recommended for a visit while on Shikoku. I haven't visited a large number of temples in my lifetime, but I have been to a few. This was one of the larger ones that I have been to in terms of space and facilities. There weren't dramatic views or breathtaking landscapes, but the temple buildings are nice and accessible. There is also a great experience of walking through the tunnels and hearing okyo. The experience is really great and gives you a good sense of nothingness and separating yourself from all things around you. I highly recommend it along with the museum of artifacts that is part of the price. Kids might be a little scared going through the dark.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OHKSO
Hyogo Prefecture, Japan113,114 contributions
Aug 2023
I entered the temple grounds from the East Temple side. At first, I tried to enter from the Great South Gate, but there was no bicycle parking area, so I asked to park my bike at the Red Gate side and visited the temple grounds. It was a weekend during the summer vacation season, so the temple grounds were bustling with worshippers and tourists. The temple's "main hall" is the "Golden Hall" on the East Temple side, but since the parking lot is on the West Temple side, it seemed that the "Goei-do Hall," which is the "Daishi Hall," attracted more worshippers. It was easy to see that there was a sign indicating the location of the "main hall" on the temple grounds.
Written August 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stuchil
California100 contributions
Aug 2019
One of the must visit temples on the trail, the highlight is the descent into the birth room of Kobo Daishi. The pitch dark approach to the room gives you a serene feeling.
Written August 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hfot2 🌸🍁🌸
Vermont7,766 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
Zentsu-ji is in a tiny town with no tourist information center that we could find. We got a map from the JR clerk but it was only in Japanese.
Directions: go out the station door and keep walking straight till you see the pagoda.
On this particular Sunday, the tidy little town of Zentsui-ji was utterly deserted. We walked and walked and walked. All the stores were closed. Finally we got to a cross street leading to a sort of significant gate in a pedestrian mall. Turning into the mall aimed us straight for the temple gate. It was about 20 minutes from the station to the gate at a comfortable pace.
Zentsu-ji is temple 75 in the Shikoko 88 temple walk. It is one of the most significant temples being the birthplace of Kobo Daishi. The pagoda and the large hall near the entrance required a lot of attention and we spent a good deal of time here at the beginning of our visit. (No photography was allowed inside the hall, but it was fine to photo the exterior) The temple complex is very large, however, and we worried about not having enough time in good sunlight since we came here in the afternoon. This first courtyard with its ancient halls, pagoda and a few huge 1000 year old camphor trees was very pleasant. A wall at the back of this courtyard is lined with many many statues of Rakan (Buddha disciples). Apparently there once were more but they have been destroyed. The remaining ones are quite interesting, with faces showing different personalities and individual traits.
There’s a short pedestrian avenue leading from this wall past another temple to a very big hall and a great many other buildings, There are quite a few new buildings as well that are less attractive to our eyes. In order to be sure to see everything in good light, the best plan might be to follow this path to the far end of the grounds and work your way back to the front gate.
There were very many worshippers and many were pilgrims in the standard white garb. At first it was very surprising to us that we saw so many people here, yet we passed no one walking the road to the temple. Later, when we got to the far end of the complex we found a gate to a fine arched bridge over a little stream, and beyond that was a parking lot with many cars and quite a few tour buses which solved the mystery of the many people at the temple. Before leaving we returned to the outer courtyard and took some final photos of the ancient camphor trees and the pagoda.
Directions: go out the station door and keep walking straight till you see the pagoda.
On this particular Sunday, the tidy little town of Zentsui-ji was utterly deserted. We walked and walked and walked. All the stores were closed. Finally we got to a cross street leading to a sort of significant gate in a pedestrian mall. Turning into the mall aimed us straight for the temple gate. It was about 20 minutes from the station to the gate at a comfortable pace.
Zentsu-ji is temple 75 in the Shikoko 88 temple walk. It is one of the most significant temples being the birthplace of Kobo Daishi. The pagoda and the large hall near the entrance required a lot of attention and we spent a good deal of time here at the beginning of our visit. (No photography was allowed inside the hall, but it was fine to photo the exterior) The temple complex is very large, however, and we worried about not having enough time in good sunlight since we came here in the afternoon. This first courtyard with its ancient halls, pagoda and a few huge 1000 year old camphor trees was very pleasant. A wall at the back of this courtyard is lined with many many statues of Rakan (Buddha disciples). Apparently there once were more but they have been destroyed. The remaining ones are quite interesting, with faces showing different personalities and individual traits.
There’s a short pedestrian avenue leading from this wall past another temple to a very big hall and a great many other buildings, There are quite a few new buildings as well that are less attractive to our eyes. In order to be sure to see everything in good light, the best plan might be to follow this path to the far end of the grounds and work your way back to the front gate.
There were very many worshippers and many were pilgrims in the standard white garb. At first it was very surprising to us that we saw so many people here, yet we passed no one walking the road to the temple. Later, when we got to the far end of the complex we found a gate to a fine arched bridge over a little stream, and beyond that was a parking lot with many cars and quite a few tour buses which solved the mystery of the many people at the temple. Before leaving we returned to the outer courtyard and took some final photos of the ancient camphor trees and the pagoda.
Written January 27, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
paso57
Paso Robles, CA981 contributions
Apr 2017 • Solo
Zentsu-ji has a number of important and interesting buildings, including a very good museum. Pilgrims are often seen there. Pilgrims on the entry bridge provide a particularly good photo opportunity.
Written May 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OnsenFans
Hawaii65 contributions
Oct 2016 • Family
We came to Zentsuji specifically to do the underground tunnel ("kaidan meguri."). It was spooky but thrilling. The four of us made a train with our hands on each others' shoulders, left hands touching the wall; and it seemed to take forever to walk through the pitch-black tunnel. The walls twist and turn, and just when you feel that you cannot walk another step (because of fear), a red light appears on the ceiling, and a butsudan to the right is illuminated. This is the fabled birth-spot of Kobo Daishi. The sound of monks chanting, then "Kobo Daishi" thanking you for your deep faith and wishing you health and happiness, was also a little scary but comforting (?) A few more steps and you are out. Definitely a must-do in one's lifetime.
Written October 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jimcraw74
London, UK29 contributions
Feb 2020
Beautiful Temple and surroundings.
You can learn so much from this visit.
The birthplace of Kobo Daishi and Temple number 75 on the 88 Temple Pilgrimage on Shikoku.
You can learn so much from this visit.
The birthplace of Kobo Daishi and Temple number 75 on the 88 Temple Pilgrimage on Shikoku.
Written March 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nonnapn
Manila, Philippines487 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
If you are interested in Kobo Daishi, this is a place you should not miss. Temple 75 on the 88 Temple Pilgrimage, Zentsuji is the largest of all the temples and has many buildings dedicated to the Daishi. Do not miss the 100 meter tunnel under the Mieido and the Treasure House with amazing pieces.
Written November 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I want to stay in this temple for 2 nights in October. Does anyone have their email address or a link to an online room registration form?
Written July 11, 2016
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