Ryūtakuji Temple, located in Shinto Village, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture, is a historic temple belonging to the Tendai school of Japanese Buddhism. Its formal name is Funaozan Ryūtakuji. Located on the eastern foothills of Mount Haruna, the temple is surrounded by peaceful natural scenery and has long been a place of religious devotion for the local community.
Ryūtakuji is associated with several pilgrimage traditions, including the Jōshū Seven Lucky Gods, the 100 Temples of Flowers of Eastern Japan, and the New Jōshū 33 Kannon Pilgrimage. The temple is also known as a “Temple of Flowers”, with different flowers blooming throughout the seasons from spring through autumn.
Ryūtakuji is one of the temples registered as part of the 100 Temples of Flowers of Eastern Japan. Its grounds offer changing scenery throughout the year, with a variety of seasonal flowers.
In spring, cherry blossoms and camellias add vibrant color to the temple grounds. From early to mid-April, the two are often in bloom at the same time, attracting visitors who come to enjoy the scenery, take photographs, and stroll through the grounds.
In early summer, azaleas and hydrangeas bring fresh colors to the temple. From summer into autumn, bush clover and other flowers continue the seasonal display. The changing landscape throughout the year helps explain why Ryūtakuji is affectionately known as a “Temple of Flowers.”
One of the most striking structures at Ryūtakuji is its five-story pagoda. Built in 1998, it is known as the first full-scale five-story pagoda constructed in Gunma Prefecture.
Traditional master carpenters were invited from Kyoto to work on the project, which took approximately five years to complete. Standing about 21 meters tall, the pagoda forms a prominent feature of the temple grounds. Its elegant wooden construction displays the delicate craftsmanship characteristic of traditional Japanese architecture.
The pagoda was established as a memorial and perpetual memorial service facility for the general public. Memorial services are conducted regardless of religious denomination, making the pagoda an important place of remembrance and prayer for people in the local community.
The origins of Ryūtakuji are traditionally traced back to the Kōnin era (810–824) during the Heian period. According to temple tradition, a local figure named Gunma Dayū Mitsuyuki invited Dengyō Daishi Saichō, the founder of the Tendai school in Japan, to establish a temple in the area.
The original temple, known as Myōken’in Saisokuji, was a large temple complex built in the mountains of Mount Haruna. Its principal Buddhist image was the Thousand-Armed Kannon, a manifestation of the bodhisattva Kannon associated with compassion. The statue became widely worshipped as a Koyazuke Kannon, or Kannon believed to grant the blessing of children, attracting worshippers who prayed for children and family happiness.
During the medieval period, the temple flourished as a branch temple of Enryakuji Temple on Mount Hiei and produced many Buddhist monks. During the Sengoku period, however, the temple became caught up in conflicts involving the Hōjō, Uesugi, and Takeda forces, and the temple complex was destroyed by fire during the fighting.
In the early Edo period, the temple was rebuilt with the support of Jigen Daishi Tenkai and Andō Shigenaga, lord of Takasaki Domain. Ryūtakuji subsequently regained its role as an important center of religious devotion.
Ryūtakuji is associated with an unusual traditional story known as the “Legend of Sōman.” The tale has been passed down through generations and is closely connected with the temple’s traditional history.
According to the legend, a warrior named Chiba Tsunemasa was troubled because he had no children. He prayed to the Thousand-Armed Kannon at Ryūtakuji, and his wish was eventually granted when he had a son. The boy was named Sōman and was raised at the temple.
Sōman grew into a fine young man, but on the day of a festival he was abducted by a tengu, a legendary supernatural being traditionally associated with the mountains of Japan. Believing that the temple had hidden his son, Tsunemasa attacked Ryūtakuji with his troops. The temple was engulfed in flames and the entire complex was destroyed.
When Tsunemasa later learned that the abduction had been the work of the tengu, he deeply regretted his actions. According to the legend, he and his retainers took their own lives. His wife rebuilt the temple to pray for her husband’s soul and is also said to have died later, following him in death.
Several places associated with this story remain near the temple, including Daihi Tennai Pond, Omoi River Benzaiten, which is dedicated to Tsunemasa’s wife, and Tsunemasa Shrine, which commemorates Tsunemasa himself.
The main hall houses the temple’s principal image, the Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Kannon. The wooden building retains architectural features associated with the Genroku era of the Edo period and is characterized by corridors surrounding the structure.
Its interior also features an unusual design in which the inner sanctuary is set one level lower than the surrounding area. This distinctive construction is considered a valuable example of traditional architecture rarely seen elsewhere in the region.
At the top of the stone steps leading along the approach to the temple stands the Niō Gate, which was rebuilt during the Hōreki era. The two-story gate houses imposing statues of the Niō guardian figures at the front.
On the rear side are statues of Hiroten and Tamonten, two of the Four Heavenly Kings who are traditionally believed to protect Buddhist temples and the Buddhist teachings.
The guest hall is considered the oldest surviving building at Ryūtakuji and is traditionally dated to the Enpō era of the Edo period. It is a single-story, hipped-roof structure that houses Buddhist images including the Shaka Trinity and Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha associated with healing.
The hall is also home to Bishamonten, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Jōshū, who is worshipped here.
Another distinctive feature of the temple grounds is the gate known as the Red Gate. Originally built as a gate for official use, it was traditionally kept closed and is therefore also known as the “Gate That Never Opens.” It is a historic structure dating from the Hōreki era.
Ryūtakuji is one of the pilgrimage sites associated with the Jōshū Seven Lucky Gods, and Bishamonten is worshipped at the temple.
Bishamonten is one of the Four Heavenly Kings and is traditionally depicted wearing armor and carrying a spear as a powerful guardian of Buddhist teachings. He is also known as Tamonten and has long been revered as a deity associated with wisdom.
In Japan, Bishamonten was particularly respected by warriors as a deity associated with military success and protection. Today, visitors continue to pray to Bishamonten for good fortune and success.
Every year on August 13, the day traditionally associated with welcoming ancestral spirits for the Bon season, food stalls and other street vendors line the approach to Ryūtakuji. The temple becomes lively with local residents and visitors.
The event offers a very different atmosphere from the temple’s normally quiet surroundings and provides an opportunity to experience local summer traditions and community culture.
Ryūtakuji is located in Shinto Village, Kitagunma District, Gunma Prefecture, and is most conveniently reached by car.
It takes approximately 9 minutes from the Komayose Smart Interchange, about 25 minutes from the Maebashi Interchange, and around 20 minutes from the Shibukawa-Ikaho Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
By train, the temple is approximately 20 minutes by car from JR Gunma-Sōja Station or about 15 minutes by car from JR Yagihara Station.
Set amid the natural beauty of the Mount Haruna foothills, Ryūtakuji Temple brings together a long history, fascinating legends, traditional Buddhist culture, and beautiful seasonal flowers.
Visitors can explore historic buildings, discover the legend of Sōman, admire the five-story pagoda, and enjoy flowers that change with the seasons. A leisurely walk through the grounds offers a peaceful way to experience the cultural heritage of Shinto Village while reflecting on the temple’s long history.