Kiyoshikojin Seichoji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, and the head temple of the Shingon Sanbo Sect. Its mountain name is Horaisan, and its principal Buddhist image is Dainichi Nyorai, the Cosmic Buddha revered in esoteric Buddhism. The temple is also widely known for the Sanbo Kojin Shrine within its grounds, where the deity of fire and the household hearth is worshipped. This distinctive combination of Buddhist and Shinto traditions has made Kiyoshikojin Seichoji a well-loved destination for worshippers for centuries.
The expansive grounds contain numerous historic buildings, religious monuments, and cultural treasures. The temple is also home to the Tetsusai Museum, Seikoden, which houses works by Tomioka Tessai, a celebrated Japanese painter and calligrapher. This cultural institution adds an artistic dimension to the temple’s spiritual significance.
Outside the main entrance, a lively approach lined with approximately 200 shops welcomes visitors. The traditional shopping street is a popular place to browse local goods, enjoy refreshments, and experience the atmosphere surrounding one of the region’s best-known places of worship.
Kiyoshikojin Seichoji was founded on November 18, 896, at the imperial request of Emperor Uda. The monk Shikan Sojo established the temple on a mountain ridge known as Motokiyoshi. At the same time, Sanbo Kojin Shrine was built in the western valley to serve as a guardian shrine for the temple.
Emperor Uda bestowed upon the temple the title “Japan’s First Kiyoshikojin.” At its height, the complex is said to have included seven major temple halls and 72 subtemples, forming an extensive religious center.
The temple suffered destruction during periods of conflict, including the conflicts of the late Heian period (794–1185) and the Siege of Itami Castle during the Sengoku period (1467–1615). Although the temple buildings were burned, Sanbo Kojin Shrine escaped destruction.
During the Ansei era (1854–1860), the main hall was relocated from Motokiyoshi to its present site. Under the guidance of the Buddhist master Jokkai Wajo, the temple was restored and its buildings reorganized.
In 1947, the Shingon Sanbo Sect was established based on the doctrine known as “Sanbo Sanfuku,” and Kiyoshikojin Seichoji became its head temple. In 1975, the Tetsusai Museum, Seikoden, opened to exhibit the works of Tomioka Tessai, further strengthening the temple’s role as a center of both religious and cultural heritage.
Locally, the temple is affectionately known as “Kojin-san.” The deity worshipped here is associated with fire, the kitchen, and the household hearth. Worshippers traditionally take home a religious talisman from the temple and place it on a household altar in the kitchen, praying for the safety and well-being of their families.
The temple is also known as an important turning point in the life of Mitsuyo Ohira, who left a life connected with organized crime and became a lawyer. According to accounts of her life, she began visiting the temple daily after her first visit and continued the practice for 17 years.
The main hall, built in the late Edo period (1603–1868), was moved to its present location during the Ansei era. Inside, visitors can find statues of Dainichi Nyorai, Fudo Myoo, Kobo Daishi—the revered founder of Shingon Buddhism—and the Four Heavenly Kings.
The hall is central to the temple’s Buddhist worship and reflects the long history of religious practice at Kiyoshikojin Seichoji.
Opened in 1975, Seikoden displays works by Tomioka Tessai, an influential Japanese painter and scholar known for his expressive brushwork and distinctive artistic style. The museum provides an opportunity to appreciate traditional Japanese painting within the tranquil setting of a historic temple.
A separate archival facility, the Shiryokan, opened in 2008. It was officially registered as a museum in 2018, expanding the institution’s role in preserving and presenting historical materials.
Sanbo Kojin Shrine is one of the temple’s most distinctive features. Its religious complex includes a sanctuary dedicated to Dai Sho Kongorin-o, also known as Nyorai Kojin, along with Kangi Doji and Benzaiten. The worship hall, known as Tendo, enshrines Sanbo Kojin-o, Daisho Kangiten, the Eleven-Headed Kannon, and other deities.
Behind the sanctuary stands the Kojin Yogo no Sakaki, a sacred sakaki tree associated with the founding of the temple. According to tradition, the deity Kojin appeared at this spot when the temple was established.
The grounds contain many additional places of interest, including a thirteen-tiered stone pagoda, Ryuo Waterfall, Ichigan Jizo, Takara Inari Shrine, and Ike-en, a traditional stroll garden arranged around a pond. Visitors can also find statues of Kobo Daishi, the Goshin-do and Ryuo-do halls, a sutra repository, a repository for prayer tablets, a hall for depositing fire tongs, a cave associated with ascetic practice, a treasure house, a bell tower, a lecture hall, and several other temple buildings.
Together, these sites reflect the temple’s long history, varied religious traditions, and enduring cultural importance.
Kiyoshikojin Seichoji preserves several nationally designated Important Cultural Properties, including a wooden seated statue of Dainichi Nyorai, a color painting on silk depicting the Thousand-Armed Kannon, and a color painting on silk of Shaka Triad attributed to the artist Ryōzen.
A painting titled “Mount Fuji” by Tomioka Tessai has been designated a Tangible Cultural Property by Takarazuka City, highlighting the temple’s connection with Japanese art and cultural history.
The temple’s natural woodland and two ginkgo trees are designated Natural Monuments by Takarazuka City. These protected features contribute to the peaceful atmosphere of the grounds and offer a reminder of the area’s natural heritage.
Kiyoshikojin Seichoji is included on several pilgrimage routes, including the Eighteen Head Temples of Shingon Buddhism, the 88 Sacred Sites of Settsu Province, and the Western Japan Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage, where the temple is associated with Hotei, the god of contentment and good fortune. It is also part of the Path of Pilgrimage to the Sacred Sites of Shinto and Buddhism.
These connections make the temple an important destination for pilgrims as well as visitors interested in Japanese religious traditions.
The temple is approximately a 20-minute walk from Kiyoshikojin Station on the Hankyu Takarazuka Line. The approach from the station to the main gate follows an uphill route lined with shops and street stalls, including businesses near Obayashiji Temple.
During the New Year period and on weekends and public holidays in January, temporary Hankyu bus services operate from the area near Takarazuka Station and the Takarazuka Grand Theater to the entrance of the approach road. Parking is available, but traffic restrictions may apply during the first three days of the New Year and on January weekends and public holidays. Visitors arriving by car may find it more convenient to use parking facilities around Takarazuka Station during these busy periods.
Kiyoshikojin Seichoji Temple brings together more than a thousand years of Buddhist history, devotion to the deity of fire, traditional architecture, and Japanese art. From the main hall and Sanbo Kojin Shrine to the Tetsusai Museum and the lively shopping street outside the entrance, the temple offers a varied experience of Japanese religious culture.
Visitors can explore the grounds at a leisurely pace, appreciate the preserved cultural treasures, and enjoy the natural surroundings while learning about the traditions that continue to make this temple an important part of life in Takarazuka.