Tours of Saint Shinran

Tours to follow the footsteps of Saint Shinran

We have several tour routes to follow the footsteps of Saint Shinran, who was the founder of Jodo Shinshu, or Shin Buddhism, and was exiled from Kyoto to Joetsu.

The departure and arrival point of these tours can be selected from whichever you wish.

If there is any other site you would like to visit, it can be added to the tour.
A van type taxi (called jumbo taxi) is recommended for a comfortable tour.

*Fees will be required to enter the sites marked with “*”.

Route

2 hours course

Joeetsu-Myoko Station –> Kotagahama –> Kokubunji Temple(Takenouchi Souan/ Kagami-ike) –> Kokuhu Betsuin(Takegasaki Souan) –> Joukouji Temple –> Takada Betsuin –> Joeetsu-Myoko Station

We will visit the places related to Saint Shinran starting from Kotagahama Beach where he first landed after being exiled from Kyoto. We will also visit Joukouji Temple, at which the parietal bone of Saint Shinran has been kept.

3 hours course

Joeetsu-Myoko Station –> Kotagahama –> Kokubunji Temple(Takenouchi Souan/ Kagami-ike) –> Joukouji Temple –> Kokuhu Betsuin(Takegasaki Souan) –> Joukouji Temple –> Takada Betsuin –> Eshin no Sato Memorial Hall ⇒ Joeetsu-Myoko Station

Besides Joukouji Temple, we will visit “Eshin no Sato Memorial Hall” where you can learn about Eshin, the wife of Saint Shinran. Outside the memorial hall, you can find a gorinto (a gravestone composed of five pieces piled up one upon another) which is known to be built by Eshin.

4 hours course

Joeetsu-Myoko Station –> Kotagahama –> Kota Shrine –> Kokubunji Temple(Takenouchi Souan/ Kagami-ike) –> Kogenji Temple –> Kokuhu Betsuin(Takegasaki Souan) –> Yourou-Shimizu –> Joukouji Temple –> Takada Betsuin –> Eshin no Sato Memorial Hall –> Joeetsu-Myoko Station

Kota Shrine is known as the shrine which Saint Shinran worshiped. There grows many one-sided reeds and thus it is known as one of the seven wonders of Saint Shinran. Kokuhu Betsuin is a temple built at the site of Takegahana Souan, a hut where Saint Shinran and his wife Eshin had lived.

Kotagahama

Kokubunji Temple

Takenouchi Souan

Kagami-ike

Kogenji Temple

Kokuhu Betsuin

Joukouji Temple

Takada Betsuin

Eshin no Sato Memorial Hall

Reservations