Toganji Temple Nagoya
Toganji Temple: read a guide to the Soto Zen temple of Toganji in the Motoyama district of eastern Nagoya.
Toganji Temple 桃巌寺
Toganji Temple (桃巌寺), in the Motoyama area of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture, dates from the sixteenth century and includes an impressive 15m high statue of the seated Buddha painted in a vivid green color.
Toganji, a Soto Zen sect temple of Japanese Buddhism, has many links to India as one of the high priests of the temple completed his studies in Buddhism there.
Toganji Temple's grounds contain a Shiva-Lingam and a shrine dedicated to the Goddess Saraswati, who is honored in a Benzaiten Festival every May 7-8.
Toganji also contains a huge wood block said to purge past sins if touched with one hand. Toganji's lovely temple grounds, though small, also contain a Chinese-style gate, an ancient pine tree and a thick, bamboo grove.
Toganji Temple, Motoyama, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya
Toganji Temple History
Toganji Temple was first built in 1532 by local Owari warlord Oda Nobunaga in honor of his father Nobuhide. The temple is named after Nobuhide's posthumous Buddhist name.
Toganji Temple moved to its present location in 1714.
The temple is entered through a narrow path which turns to the left through the Chinese gate. Descend a set of stone stairs and you will see the sitting Buddha image on your left. The pedestal of the image is decorated with Indian-style Buddhist iconography. A large bronze hand is also a striking detail of this pleasant garden space.
Chinese-style gate at Toganji Temple, Motoyama, Nagoya
Seated Buddha statue at Toganji Temple, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya
Access - how to get to Toganji Temple in Nagoya
Toganji Temple is a short distance south from Motoyama Station on the Meijo and Higashiyama lines of the Nagoya subway. Toganji Temple is close to Nagoya Zoo (Higashiyama Koen) and Nagoya University. Buses run between Nagoya University and Motoyama Station.
Toganji Temple
2-16 Yotsuya-dori
Chikusa-ku
Nagoya
464-0819
Tel: 052 781 1427
Google map of Toganji Temple
Bronze hand statue at Toganji Temple, Nagoya
Pine tree at Toganji Temple, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya
