Kuhonji Temple
Kuhonji Temple dates back to 1488 and the time of Nichizo Shonin, the Nichiren Buddhist priest who spread the teachings of the Lotus Sutra throughout Yakushima. The establishment of the practice of honoring the bodhisattva Ippon Hoju Daigongen, a manifestation of the Shinto mountain deity Yamasachihiko, is attributed to Nichizo. A mandala believed to be by the hand of Nichizo himself is occasionally exhibited. A memorial on the temple grounds marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Shimazu Yoshihisa (1533–1611), who, as the sixteenth head of his clan, played a central role in unifying Kyushu. Visit the temple by 5:45 p.m. to hear the daily sounding of its bell.
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To book a village tour in Miyanoura, visit online or the Yakushima Environmental and Cultural Village Center in person at:
823-1 Miyanoura
Yakushima-cho, Kumage-gun
Kagoshima-ken 891-4205