500 Rakan statues of Kita-in

sightseeing

"Rakan", or "Arhat" is a Buddhist term signifying a spiritual practitioner, or high priest, who has attained enlightenment. Considered as one of Japan's three great Rakan is the 500 Rakan of the Kita-in temple that took 50 years to complete. The 538 stone statues are famous for expressing human emotions and for being unique in their actions. According to legend, if you visit at night and touch the heads of the statues, one will be warm. The face of this statue is said to resemble the sculptor's passed away parent.

Basic Information

Location
1-20-1 Kosenbamachi, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture
TEL
049-222-0859(Kitain Temple Office)

Business hours / Fee

Business hours
3/1-11/23: Weekdays 8: 50-16: 30, Sundays and holidays 8: 50-16: 50 / 11/24-End of February: Weekdays 8: 50-16: 00, Sundays and holidays 8: 50-16 : 20
* We will respond during the above hours to prevent the spread of new coronavirus infections and protect cultural properties.
Regular holiday
December 25th to January 8th, February 2nd and 3rd, April 2nd to 5th * In addition, the visit may be canceled on days when there are in-hospital events.
Fee
Adults 400 yen Children (elementary and junior high school students) 200 yen

How to get there

Public transport
Tobu Tojo Line/JR Line, Kawagoe Stn, 20 min walk
Tobu Tojo Line, Kawagoe City Stn, 20 min walk
Seibu Shinjuku Line Hon-Kawagoe Stn, 15 min walk
Car
About 15 minutes from Kawagoe IC on the Kan-Etsu Expressway, About 20 minutes from Kawajima IC on the Ken-O Expressway
Parking
133 units charged:General passengers up to 3 hours 500 yen (congested seasons such as Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and New Year) * Weekdays are hourly. / Large vehicle (tourist bus, etc.) 1,000 yen for up to 2 hours * Additional charge 500 yen per hour * The parking lot will be closed due to traffic restrictions on 3rd January.

Map

Nearby spots

Kita-in Temple
Kita-in Temple

It greatly thrived in 1612 when Sōjō Tenkai trusted by Ieyasu Tokugawa became the chief priest. Due to Kawagoe’s great fire in 1638, most of the Kita-in Temple burnt down, but from the Edo period, the third generation Shogun Iemitsu removed and reconstructed “Iemitsu Tanjō no Ma” and “Kasuga no Tsubone Keshō no Ma” from the Edo Castle. In addition, the entire area was designated as an important cultural property. One of Japan’s three major arhat, “Gohyakurakan”, can be seen.

Kawagoe City Industrial Tourist Center (Koedo Kurari)
Kawagoe City Industrial Tourist Center (Koedo Kurari)

Koedo Kurari is an improved facility of what used to be the building Kyūkagamiyama brewery established in 1875, with the atmosphere of the original brewery remaining to this day. The brewery, built through the Meiji, Taisho, and Shōwa period, has been remodeled and designated as one of Japan's registered tangible cultural properties along with the three warehouses: souvenir shop (Meijigura), Restaurant (Taishōgura), Japanese sake shop (Shōwagura), and meeting space (Tenjigura).

Old Yamazaki Family Villa
Old Yamazaki Family Villa

Old Yamazaki Family Villa was built as a retreat for Kashichi Yamazaki, the 5th generation of Kameya, a long-established confectionery store of Kawagoe. In 2000, the main house, tearoom, and the benches of the waiting room were designated as a tangible cultural property of the city and in 2006, a portion of the building was donated to the city. In February of 2011, the garden was registered as the national registered monument (location of scenic beauty). In addition, on September 30th of 2019, the purlin was designated as the nation’s important cultural property (edifice). (Tearoom and the benches of the waiting room were also designated). In the garden of the Old Yamazaki Family Villa, there are architectures of a Japanese-style house and a Western-style house along with an example of a Japanese-style garden with a tearoom designed by Katsuya Yasuoka and is recognized of value with a high evaluation for its “contribution to the development for the culture of landscape architecture”.

Kawagoe City Nakacho Information Centre
Kawagoe City Nakacho Information Centre

Situated near the Nakacho intersection, the entrance to the Kurazukuri district, this information center takes the shape of a traditional storehouse and is packed with useful information! You can also use their baggage storage service (for a fee) and connect to their free Wi-Fi!

Renkeiji Temple
Renkeiji Temple

The Renkei Daishi was built by the mother of the lord of the Kawagoe Castle, Daidōji Masashige, in 1549. Later during the Tokugawa period, it was made into a place of study for the Buddhist priest and was officially recognized as a temple, raising many Buddhist priests. In addition, Fukurokuju, one of the 7 lucky gods of Kawagoe is enshrined. There is also an event that takes place on a regular basis.

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