Chokokuji

## Chokokuji Temple in Matsushiro, Nagano: Samurai History in a Quiet Zen Compound Chokokuji (長国寺) is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple in Matsushiro, a historic samurai district about 12 km south of central Nagano City. It served as the mortuary temple of the Sanada clan, the powerful lords of Matsushiro Domain during the Edo period. The temple stands at 1015 Matsushiro, Matsushiro-chō, Nagano City, within easy reach of Nagano Station and the Nagano Expressway. --- ## Why Chokokuji Matters ### A temple built for one of Japan’s most famous samurai families - Family temple of the Sanada clan: Chokokuji is the family temple of the Sanada, with graves of successive lords of the Matsushiro domain on its grounds. - Founded in 1547: The temple was originally established in 1547 by Sanada Yukitaka in what is now Ueda, Nagano Prefecture. - Relocated with the domain: When the Sanada were moved by the Tokugawa shogunate to Matsushiro in the 17th century, Sanada Nobuyuki transferred the temple and its graveyard to the current site and provided it with a rice stipend for upkeep. - Sōtō Zen seminary: Chokokuji functioned not only as a family temple but also as a seminary for Sōtō sect monks, which led to its growth and status during the Edo period. For readers building a Nagano itinerary, Chokokuji pairs naturally with other Sanada heritage sites in Matsushiro such as the castle ruins and former residence. (On your site, this is a good place to internally link to a broader Nagano samurai town guide.) --- ## Architecture & Layout: What You’ll Actually See ### Main hall and roof details The current main hall is a reconstruction completed in 1886, following major fires and flooding that damaged earlier structures. Several details stand out: - Sanada crest on the roof: The roof is decorated with the Sanada family emblem, the rokumonsen (six coins), a motif associated with crossing the river of death in Buddhist belief and widely used by the clan. Experience - Shachi roof ornaments: The raised central section of the roof features a large pair of shachi or shachihoko—mythical fish with tiger heads—traditionally believed to protect buildings from fire. Monkey Resorts These elements make the hall instantly recognisable in photos of Matsushiro. ### Sanada family cemetery (National Historic Site) Behind the main structures lies the Sanada clan cemetery: - The cemetery covers roughly 800 m² and contains 33 graves, including ten generations of Matsushiro daimyō and several of their children. - The site includes memorials to the Sengoku-period warlords Sanada Nobutsuna, Masayuki, and Yukimura, central figures in Japanese military history. - The cemetery was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1987. This is one of the most concentrated places to see the physical legacy of the Sanada family in a single, walkable compound. ### Nobuyuki’s black-lacquer mausoleum Within the grounds stand several mortuary chapels dedicated to individual lords: - The chapel of Sanada Nobuyuki, first lord of Matsushiro, dates to 1660, has black-lacquered walls, and an ornate irimoya-style roof with rich carvings. It is designated a National Important Cultural Property. - The chapels of Sanada Yukimichi (built 1727) and Sanada Nobuhiro (built 1736) are designated Nagano Prefectural Important Cultural Properties. According to Guidoor, the gorgeously decorated interior of Nobuyuki’s mausoleum can be viewed by advance reservation, and admission is charged for entry. (Fees and viewing conditions can change, so it’s best to confirm current details with official Nagano or Matsushiro tourism sites before you go.) --- ## Visiting Experience: What It’s Like on the Ground ### Atmosphere and setting Official tourism descriptions highlight Chokokuji as one of Matsushiro’s key temples tied to the Sanada story, with the family graves located within the same precinct. Photographs from Nagano tourism boards and travel guides show: - A broad stone or gravel approach lined with lanterns and trees - The main hall framed by greenery and distant hills - Separate, darker wooden structures in the rear area (the mausoleums) shaded by tall trees This layout means you can clearly distinguish between the main worship hall and the more intimate cemetery and mortuary chapels as you walk the grounds. ### Accessibility notes Public sources and photos indicate gravel paths and some stone steps around the compound. Exact accessibility provisions (such as ramps or handrails) are not clearly documented in the sources used here. If step-free access or wheelchair navigation is important, it is safest to confirm with the Matsushiro Tourist Information Center or Nagano City tourism office before visiting. --- ## Practical Information: Getting to Chokokuji ### From Nagano Station There are two commonly cited access routes: - By bus: - From JR Nagano Station, take an Alpico bus bound for Matsushiro from the Zenkoji Exit (Bus Stop No. 3). - Ride for about 30–35 minutes and get off at Matsushiro Station bus stop. - From there, it is roughly a 10-minute walk east to the temple. Monkey Resorts - By car: - Chokokuji is about 1.5 km from Nagano Interchange on the Nagano Expressway. - Travel time from Nagano Station by car is estimated at around 25 minutes, depending on traffic. Because local bus timetables and stop names can change, checking the latest information on Alpico or Nagano City’s official websites before traveling is recommended. ### Admission and reservations - Snow Monkey Resorts notes an admission fee of JPY 300 in the context of visiting Chokokuji. Monkey Resorts - Guidoor states that seeing the interior of Nobuyuki’s mausoleum requires advance reservation and that admission is charged. Both sources were updated in recent years, but ticket prices, viewing times, and reservation procedures can be revised, especially for heritage sites, so always confirm via official tourism channels or the temple’s own site before finalising plans. --- ## How to Combine Chokokuji with Matsushiro’s Other Samurai Sites Matsushiro as a whole is marketed by Nagano and regional tourism boards as a “samurai town” with multiple Edo-period remains of the Sanada clan: Matsushiro Castle, the former Sanada Residence, Bunbu Gakko (the literary and military school), and several museums. NAGANO Because Chokokuji is slightly away from the main cluster of sites in central Matsushiro, several guides recommend renting a bicycle at the local Tourist Information Center to connect the temple with: Monkey Resorts - Matsushiro Castle Park - The Sanada Treasure Museum - The former Sanada Residence and samurai homes - The Bunbu school complex On your own site, this section is a strong place to add another internal link, for example to a Nagano day-trip itinerary from Tokyo or a broader Japan rail and transport guide, helping readers move from inspiration to concrete planning. --- ## Key Reasons to Include Chokokuji in a Nagano Itinerary Based on the current tourism and heritage data: - It is one of the central Sanada family sites, with a cemetery that spans ten generations of daimyō and their relatives. - The Nobuyuki mausoleum is recognised nationally for its cultural importance and distinctive black-lacquer architecture. - The temple grounds clearly express Matsushiro’s identity as a samurai town, connecting martial history with Sōtō Zen practice. - Access from Nagano Station is straightforward via bus or car, making it a realistic half-day add-on to visits to Zenko-ji or the Snow Monkey area. Monkey Resorts As long as readers are aware that opening hours, fees, and reservation rules can change and double-check those details with official sources, Chokokuji is a historically dense, manageable stop that adds real depth to any Nagano or central-Japan itinerary.