Buddhist temple
Rinnō-ji
輪王寺（りんのうじ）
Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture
A Tendai temple on Nikkōsan in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture, and part of the World Heritage site "Shrines and Temples of Nikkō". In its main hall, the Sanbutsudō, three large buddha statues—Senju Kannon, Amida Nyorai and Batō Kannon—are enshrined as the principal images.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Prayers associated with this place
Principal objects of worship: the honjibutsu of the Nikkō Sansho Gongen in the Sanbutsudō (Senju Kannon, Amida Nyorai, Batō Kannon)
History and things to know
According to temple tradition, it began when Shōdō Shōnin opened Nikkōsan in Tenpyō Jingo 2 (766), and in the Kamakura period it flourished as a great sacred site of the Kantō region, receiving donations from Minamoto no Yoritomo and others. In the Edo period the high priest Tenkai became its head priest and received Tokugawa Ieyasu as Tōshō Daigongen; the imperial court granted the title Rinnō-ji, and the Rinnōji-no-miya, a member of the imperial family, resided there. The present Sanbutsudō was rebuilt in Shōhō 2 (1645) by the third shogun, Iemitsu.
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Related kami and buddhas
Before you visit
Chūzen-ji (Tachiki Kannon) and Onsen-ji are branch temples of Rinnō-ji located in Oku-Nikkō, away from the main hall, the Sanbutsudō.
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 輪王寺「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-21 確認）
This site is independent of the shrines, temples, and other websites mentioned. No partnership or endorsement is implied.