A Jodo sect temple in Kumagaya whose name, 'Joko' (pure radiance), symbolizes the wisdom and compassion of Amida Nyorai shining like pure light. Rooted in the farming communities of this Nakasendo post town, it has long served as a place for nembutsu practice and ancestral memorial rites. The tranquil grounds with seasonal flowers provide a serene refuge for worshippers.

Jokoji Temple is traditionally said to have been founded around 1205, during the early Kamakura period. While the precise circumstances of its founding remain unclear, it is believed to have taken root as a nembutsu practice hall in the farming communities around Kumagaya, amid the broader spread of…