Kai Zenkoji Temple
山梨県
Jodo temple where Shingen transferred Zenkoji's sacred image from Shinano before the Kawanakajima battles
Founded
1558
Type
Temple
Visited
Want to go
Access
About 15 min by bus from JR Kofu Station north exit, alight at Zenkoji
3-36-1 Zenkoji, Kofu, Yamanashi
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Overview
An ancient Jodo Buddhist temple in Zenkoji, Kofu City. It originated when Takeda Shingen transferred the principal image of Zenkoji in Shinano — the Zenkoji Nyorai — along with the architectural style of the entire complex to Kai Province in 1558, reportedly to protect the sacred image from Uesugi Kenshin during the battles of Kawanakajima. The main hall, an Important Cultural Property, is a grand…
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Origins
Kai Zenkoji Temple traces its origins to 1558, when Takeda Shingen transferred the principal image of Zenkoji in Shinano Province — the Zenkoji Nyorai — along with the architectural traditions of its complex, to Kai Province. This was reportedly carried out to protect the sacred image from seizure b…
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人Related Figures— 2
人
Uesugi Kenshin
Dragon of Echigo, God of War
Age 28 at founding
›
Shingen's decision to move the Zenkoji image was a direct response to Kenshin's advances into Shinano. Kenshin himself had profound devotion to the Zenkoji Nyorai and is said to have later welcomed the image to his own domain. The contest between these two rivals over possession of the sacred image reflected the intertwining of faith, prestige, and power in the Sengoku age.
T
Takeda Shingen
Tiger of Kai — Furinkazan
Age 37 at founding
›
In 1558, before the Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima, Shingen transferred the sacred Zenkoji Nyorai image from Shinano to Kai Province to protect it from Kenshin's reach. The scale of the project—transplanting not just the image but the temple's architectural style—demonstrates his deep personal devotion and his ambition to make Kai a center of Buddhist faith.
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Visiting Information
Hours
Visiting hours 9:00-16:30, open year-round.
Admission
Combined Main Hall/Museum admission: adults 500, elementary 250. Grounds free.
As of 2026-07-17. Subject to change.
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記
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