2-4-17 Suwa-cho, Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture
Rating
Cost per person
¥500
Hokoji Temple, located in Shibata City, is the family temple of the Mizoguchi clan, former lords of the Shibata domain. The impressive main gate, built in the late Edo period, features fan-shaped rafters. Inside, visitors can view portraits of successive lords and learn about the Shibata clan's history. The temple grounds also include the graves of the lords. A notable feature is the weeping cherry tree, estimated to be 380 years old, said to be donated by Tokugawa Iemitsu. The temple is open for visitation from March 18th to November 15th (closed Mondays, or the following day if Monday is a holiday) from 9 AM to 4 PM, with a 200 yen admission fee (free for high school students and younger).