Kōsan-ji Temple
Kōsan-ji is a temple on the island of Ikuchijima. It belongs to the Hongan-ji school of Jōdō Shinshu. It was founded by the industrialist Kōzō Kanamoto (later Kōzō Kōsanji) in 1936 in honour of his deceased mother. The vast complex built around a hilltop is dotted with structures modelled on Japan’s most famous historic temples and shrines. Visitors may object that unlike Japan’s cherished religious buildings, Kosan-ji is unbearably gaudy. However, the ancient temples that we see today were once gaily painted in the same manner.
The Kōsan-ji Museum houses over two thousand items, including nineteen Important Cultural Properties.
The precincts also include the Hill of Hope, a monument landscaped by Kuetani Kazuto using five thousand square metres of Carrara marble. It’s topped by something resembling a nutcracker.
Information
Name in Japanese: 耕三寺
Pronunciation: kōsan-jee
Address: 553-2 Setoda, Setoda-chō, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-2411
