Naritasan Shinshoji Temple 成田山新勝寺

Official explanation

Naritasan Shinshoji is one of the main temples of Shingon Buddhism with a history dating back over 1,000 years. Shingon Buddhism is one of the major schools of Buddhism in Japan. Shingon Buddhism was brought back from China by the famous monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi) in the ninth century. It is a school of esoteric Buddhism, which holds that enlightenment is possible in this very life, through the practice of rituals and meditation. The temple is one of the largest and most popular in eastern Japan, covering 220,000 m2 and welcoming 10 million visitors every year. Five of Shinshoji temple's buildings are designated Important Cultural Properties, including the two former main halls and the Sanju no to, a three-storied pagoda. The famous image of Fudo Myoo, a Buddhist deity of fierce compassion, which is enshrined in the Daihondo Great Main Hall, is also an Important Cultural Property.

“Naritasan” is the sango (the “mountain name” prefix; san means mountain) of Shinshoji Temple. Buddhist temples were often built on mountains, and it became common to prefix temple names with the name of the mountain on which they are located.

Read the full explanation

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is the center of Narita city. It was founded in 940, and today it is one of the most popular temples in eastern Japan with over 10 million visitors a year. The temple is the most visited of all Japan's temples for hatsumode (first shrine or temple visit of the New Year) when it welcomes 3 million people. It is one of three leading temples of the Chisan sect of Reformed Shingon Buddhism, a school of esoteric Buddhism, which today for many Japanese is defined by its consecrated fire ritual. The Goma fire rite is performed daily before the Fudo Myoo, one of the Wisdom Kings in Buddhism, who protects by burning away all impediments and defilements, thus aiding people towards enlightenment. The ritual is held twice each day. There are five buildings that have been designated Important Cultural Properties on the temple's 220,000 m2 of grounds. These are the Komyodo and Shakado, which previously served as the main hall of the temple, and the Sanju no to (three-storied pagoda), the Niomon Gate, and the Gakudo. Some of the structures date back over 300 years and are important examples of early modern temple architecture.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.