Kousanji Temple, a religious area in Hiroshima, Japan, is also popular as a historical tourist destination. Within one area, you can find a temple, museum, monuments, and villas that hold many stories.
Kousanji Temple Hiroshima (pappyrazi via Unsplash)
What are the attractions of Kousanji Temple? Discover the location, operating hours, attractions, and ticket prices of Kousanji Temple here.
Location and Operating Hours of Kousanji Temple
Kousanji Temple is located at 553-2 Setodachō Setoda, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-2411, Japan. It is open every day from 09:00 to 17:00 local time.
There are many transportation options to get here. If you're traveling by boat, you can choose Setoda Port or Sawa as your destination with a duration of about 25-40 minutes.
Bus routes can also be taken with the final destination at Setoda Bus Station. Meanwhile, car routes can take the Nishiseto Expressway and exit from Honshu or Shikoku.
Attractions of Kousanji Temple
One reason why Kousanji Temple is so popular in Japan is not just because of the temple itself. Several other areas are also interesting to explore, such as the Kousanji Museum, Choseikaku Villa, and The Hill of Hope (Miraishin No Oka).
1. Kousanji Temple
Kousanji Temple Hiroshima
Established in 1936, Kousanji Temple was initiated by Kozo Kosanji. The temple was built as a tribute to his late mother.
Standing majestically to this day, Kousanji Temple actually took more than 30 years to build in its time. Inside, there is an inscription that reads "The mothers of the world are as the Goddess of Mercy," with the hope of encouraging visitors to always honor their mothers.
2. Kousanji Museum
Shigigata Water Vase
Amida Nyorai
In addition to the touching inscription, on the grounds of Kousanji, there are artworks curated by Kosanji. These include sculptures, paintings, handicrafts, as well as Important Cultural Properties and Important Artworks of Japan.
3. Choseikaku Villa
Choseikaku Villa at Kousanji Temple
Choseikaku Villa at Kousanji Temple
Choseikaku Villa is a Japanese-Western residence built by Kozo Kosanji in 1927 to serve as a resting place for his mother. The villa uses the finest wood as its main material. Additionally, there are iconic sliding door paintings as interior decorations of the villa.
4. The Hill of Hope (Miraishin No Oka)
The Hill of Hope (Miraishin No Oka) di Kousanji Temple
The Hill of Hope was designed by Itto Kuetani, a renowned sculptor in Italy. This marble garden took 16 years to be officially opened in October 2000.
With an area of over 5,000 square meters, Itto Kuetani used 3,000 tons of Carrara marble to build the best monument. To create the theme of "Family Bonding," he filled the monument area with various types of plants.
Ticket Prices of Kousanji Temple
Kousanji Temple sets ticket prices starting from 800 Yen for visitors. This rate is divided into individual and group categories with more than 20 members. Here's the list of ticket prices for Kousanji Temple.
General (1,400 Yen)
General - Group of more than 20 people (1,200 Yen per person)
University Students (1,000 Yen)
University Students - Group of more than 20 people (800 Yen per person)
High School Students (1,000 Yen)
High School Students - Group of more than 20 people (800 Yen per person)
