Rinnō-ji Temple

Rinnō-ji is a Buddhist temple complex in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, founded in 766 by the monk Shōdō Shōnin. It is a central religious site in Nikkō and a key element of the town’s ensemble of historic temples and shrines.

The complex’s principal attraction is the Sanbutsudō (Three Buddha Hall), which contains three large gilded statues. Other highlights include Edo-period mausolea and landscaped temple gardens that draw both pilgrims and cultural tourists.

Rinnō-ji was established in the Nara period by Shōdō Shōnin and expanded over many centuries, with major additions and patronage during medieval and early modern Japan. The temple complex and related shrines were collectively inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

The temple sits in the town of Nikkō, within Nikko National Park in Tochigi Prefecture, north of the Tokyo metropolitan area. The complex is within easy distance of other heritage sites in central Nikkō.

• World Heritage Site: Included in the Shrines and Temples of Nikko UNESCO World Heritage Site together with nearby Shinto shrines and mausolea.
• Principal hall: Sanbutsudō contains three large gilded Buddha statues that are the principal objects of veneration.

What to See #

• Sanbutsudō (Three Buddha Hall): Main hall housing three large gilded Buddhist images of Amida, Senju-Kannon and Bato-Kannon, forming the core devotional focus of the temple complex.
• Taiyū-in: Tomb and temple complex built for Tokugawa Iemitsu with richly carved architecture dating to the early Edo period and included within the broader temple grounds.