Kokuseki-ji

Quietly set in Kokusekicho, Mizusawa, Oshu City, Kokuseki-ji is an ancient Tendai temple regarded as one of the oldest in Tohoku. According to temple tradition, it was founded in 729 by the monk Gyoki and is counted among the very oldest temples in the region. Its principal image is a seated wooden Yakushi Nyorai designated an Important Cultural Property, and the temple carries nearly 1300 years of history.

What long made this temple famous nationwide was the Kokuseki-ji Somin Festival held in the depths of winter. It was a vigorous naked festival in which men fought over the Somin bag and prayed for health, and it was designated a Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property. However, owing to the aging and shortage of participants, the naked festival came to a close with the 2024 edition, and from 2025 the faith is carried on in forms such as goma prayer rituals. The usually silent grounds hold a long history of devotion.

Highlights

• The rank of one of the oldest Tendai temples in Tohoku, said to be founded in 729
• Precious Buddhist images including the seated wooden Yakushi Nyorai, an Important Cultural Property
• The long time stage of the Kokuseki-ji Somin Festival, a Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property (the naked festival ended in 2024)
• Quiet grounds nestled in the hills, with an air that lets you worship in calm

Enjoying the Seasons

In spring the trees bud and fresh greenery softly graces the old temple. In summer deep green surrounds the site and the cool of the quiet hills can be felt. Autumn leaves enhance the dignity of the ancient temple all the more. In winter the old temple settles into the deep snow of the hills, a quiet season for prayer while reflecting on the history of the Somin Festival.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: Yamauchi, Kokusekicho, Mizusawa, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture
• Access: About 15 minutes by car from JR Mizusawa Station, and easy to reach from the Mizusawa interchange of the Tohoku Expressway
• Free to visit, no admission fee
• Parking is available, and it pairs well with old shrines in Oshu such as Komagata Shrine

Practical Travel Notes

• Best time: May for fresh greenery and late October to November for autumn color suit a slow visit to this quiet temple
• Time needed: about 30 to 60 minutes for a visit and a stroll, a fitting scale for a starting point to explore Oshu history
• About the Somin Festival: the vigorous naked festival ended in 2024, and knowing this history changes how the quiet grounds feel on a visit
• Real nearby spots: pair with Komagata Shrine, the first shrine of Rikuchu, with Shobo-ji, known for the largest thatched main hall in Tohoku, and with the Oshu buried cultural property research center
• Budget feel: worship is free, and a rental car is the easiest way to get around

A Quick Tip

The temple is usually quiet, so worshiping slowly while feeling the weight of history is recommended. The long running Somin Festival closed with the 2024 edition, but its faith is carried on through goma prayer rituals. It also makes an ideal starting point for exploring the history of Oshu City.

📚 Sources

This article was compiled by our editorial team based on the temple history of Kokuseki-ji and on-site guidance, public information from the city of Oshu and its tourist information, public information about the nationally designated Important Cultural Property Buddhist statues and the Kokusekiji Somin-sai, and general information about the nearby Komagata Shrine and Shobo-ji. Due to the aging of its bearers and a shortage of hands, the Somin-sai ended as a naked festival with the 2024 event, and from 2025 onward it is carried on in forms such as goma fire rituals. Whether it is held and the operation of nearby facilities may vary, and fees, hours, and access may also change, so before you set out please check the official information such as the tourist information of the city of Oshu.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time needed: about 30 to 60 minutes for a visit and a stroll, a scale just right as a starting point for a historical walk in Oshu
• What to bring and prepare: as it is an old temple in the mountains, wear comfortable shoes. A rental car is convenient for getting around
• Suggested route: worship at Kokuseki-ji, one of the oldest Tendai temples in Tohoku, and tour the precinct that preserves precious statues such as the seated wooden Yakushi Nyorai, combined with the Rikuchu first shrine Komagata Shrine and Shobo-ji
• About the Somin-sai: the spirited naked festival ended with the 2024 event; knowing the history changes how the quiet precinct appears
• For a quieter visit: the fresh greenery of May and the foliage of late October to November suit savoring the quiet old temple