Nikko · East and north of Lake Chuzenji
Chuzenji Temple (Tachiki Kannon)
How to get there and what to see · facts checked 2026-10-24
Photo: Adrian Tync・CC BY-SA 4.0
A branch temple of Rinnoji on the shore of Lake Chuzenji. It enshrines a Kannon statue said to have been carved from a living katsura tree.
- Nearest station
- About 50 minutes by bus, then a 15-minute walk
- Hours
- Apr–Oct 8:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30); Nov and Mar 8:00–16:00; Dec–Feb 8:30–15:30
- Admission
- Adults (high school and up) ¥500; elementary and junior high students ¥200
What to see
- Tachiki Kannon: the main image, an eleven-faced thousand-armed Kannon, is an Important Cultural Property.
- Godaido: a hall for five wisdom kings; the view of Lake Chuzenji from here is described as spectacular.
- Temple no. 18 of the Bando 33 Kannon pilgrimage.
- Experiences: sutra copying, Buddha-image drawing and prayer-bead making.
History
The monk Shodo Shonin founded it in 784. The main image is said to be the Thousand-Armed Kannon he saw above the lake, carved into a standing katsura tree. After a mountain landslide in 1902 the temple moved to its present site.
Getting there
About 50 minutes by bus from JR Nikko or Tobu-Nikko Station toward Yumoto Onsen to "Tachiki Kannon Iriguchi", then about 15 minutes on foot. Or change at "Chuzenji Onsen" to a Hangetsuyama bus (check its running days) for about 4 minutes to "Tachiki Kannon / Yuransen Hatchakujo", then walk about 2 minutes.
Address：2578 Chugushi, Nikko, Tochigi
Lake Chuzenji area (about 50 min by bus)
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Nearby sights
← Nikko guide: trains from Tokyo
Sources
Hours, prices and history come from the official websites and public tourism pages listed here. They can change, so check the official site before you go.
- 日光山輪王寺（中禅寺 立木観音）（checked 2026-10-24）
- 日光市観光協会（日光山中禅寺 立木観音）（checked 2026-10-24）
Map data：© OpenStreetMap contributors