Myosenji Temple

Overview

Myosenji Temple is a Nichiren Buddhist temple located in Abu-bou, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture. One of the three main Nichiren Buddhist temples on Sado Island, it was founded when Nichiren's disciple, Abu-bou Nitoku, opened his home as a temple. It features Sado Island's only nationally designated Important Cultural Property: a magnificent five-storied pagoda. The pagoda was reportedly built over two generations by the father and son, Mogozaemon, master carpenters from Aikawa, during the Edo period, and is said to be modeled after the five-storied pagoda at Nikko Toshogu Shrine. Its imposing presence overwhelms visitors, providing a profound sense of Sado's history and culture. The pagoda remains unfinished, lacking balustrades and lattice doors on each story due to funding shortages. An inscription on the finial indicates its construction took approximately 90 years, completed in 1740 (Genbun 5). The temple also houses precious cultural artifacts, including a letter written by Nichiren and a finely written Lotus Sutra, making it a must-see for history enthusiasts. Once the site of Zota Castle, the former residence of the Sado Shugo-dai Takeda Honma clan, the temple's quiet grounds still retain an air of the castle's past, inviting serene walks. With its majestic pagoda, valuable cultural artifacts, and peaceful, history-laden grounds, Myosenji Temple is packed with attractions. Be sure to visit when you're on Sado Island.