Jokoji: The Karita Yakushi, a Temple of Protection in Obuse

Standing at the foot of Mount Karita in the town of Obuse, Jokoji is an old temple of the Buzan school of the Shingon sect. Locals affectionately call it the Karita Yakushi, and it is known as a temple that wards off evil and misfortune. Its Yakushi hall, built in 1408 in the middle of the Muromachi period, is a National Important Cultural Property, and its simple, beautiful thatched roof is a highlight. Beloved also by those wishing for a good match, it goes by the alternate name Tsumagoi Yakushi.

Highlights

• The thatched Yakushi hall, built in 1408 and designated a National Important Cultural Property, with a dignified hip-and-gable roof.
• The stone steps of natural rock along the approach, which offer a mellow charm together with the local lore handed down here.
• Worship for warding off misfortune and evil, alongside its devotion as the Tsumagoi Yakushi for good matches; a local saying even runs, if you want a bride, come to Karita.
• A goma fire ritual held in the Yakushi hall on the first of each month, open to anyone to make a prayer.
• The countryside scenery of the four seasons spreading out at the foot of Mount Karita.

Enjoying the Seasons

In spring the surrounding fields and hills bud, offering a peaceful rural feel. In the fresh-green and autumn-foliage seasons, the contrast between the thatched Yakushi hall and the greenery or crimson leaves is lovely and very photogenic. Obuse is also famous as a land of chestnuts and fruit, so an autumn visit pairs nicely with fruit picking and a round of chestnut sweets.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: 676 Karita, Obuse-machi, Kamitakai-gun, Nagano
• Access: About 30 minutes on foot from Obuse Station on the Nagano Dentetsu line; a loop bus around town is also available (operates seasonally)
• Hours: Grounds open at all times
• Admission: Free
• Parking: Available

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: The fresh green of early summer and the foliage of late October to November are at their best; to catch the goma ritual, aim for the morning of the first of the month.
• Avoiding crowds: Central Obuse bustles in chestnut season, but the temple sits a little away in Karita and stays relatively quiet, so a morning visit is calm.
• Rough time needed: About 30 minutes to an hour for worship and a stroll of the steps and grounds; allow a half day if combining it with a town walk.
• Real spots nearby: The Hokusai-kan museum in central Obuse, long-established chestnut-sweet shops, and Gansho-in temple, with its Fukushima Masanori mausoleum and Hokusai ceiling painting, are within walking or cycling range.
• Budget sense: Worship is free, and even with chestnut sweets, a meal, and a rental bicycle you can enjoy a full day for a few hundred to a few thousand yen.

A Quick Tip

The climb to the Yakushi hall is up natural stone steps, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Since it is a little walk from the center of Obuse, pairing your visit with a stroll through town lets you better savor the quiet of the Karita countryside.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: Allow about 30 minutes to an hour combining worship at the Yakushi hall with a stroll of the grounds.
• What to prepare: You walk an approach at the foot of the mountain, so comfortable shoes are reassuring.
• Getting around: It is close to central Obuse, so you can go by car or on foot.
• Worship manners: Worship quietly at the Important Cultural Property Yakushi hall and take care not to touch the building.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Visiting hours: Open at any time (the precincts are freely accessible)
• Admission: Free of charge
• Goshuin and amulets: There is a stall in the precincts where goshuin stamps and amulets are given out. If you want one, it is best to have some coins ready
• Monthly goma ritual: Held on the first day of every month from 11:00 inside the Yakushido hall, and anyone may offer a prayer. Timing your visit for this day is well worth considering
• How long to allow: 30 minutes to an hour to visit the Yakushido and stroll around the precincts. If you combine it with a walk around Obuse, allow half a day to be safe
• Footwear and clothing: You climb a stairway built of natural stones to reach the Yakushido. The steps are uneven in height and there are few handrails, so sturdy walking shoes are essential. They become slippery after rain or snow
• Pushchairs and wheelchairs: Because of this stone stairway, it is difficult to reach the Yakushido with a pushchair or wheelchair. You would need to pay your respects from the bottom of the approach
• Avoiding the crowds: The centre of Obuse is lively during the chestnut season (September to November), but this temple in Karita is away from the centre and stays relatively quiet. Mornings are calmest
• Access: About a 30-minute walk from Obuse Station on the Nagano Electric Railway. The town's loop bus (which runs only in certain periods) and rental bicycles are also handy
• Parking: There is a free car park
• Address: 676 Karita, Obuse Town, Kamitakai District, Nagano Prefecture (Tel 026-247-3924)
• Etiquette: The Yakushido is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property. Please visit quietly and take care not to touch the building
• Places to combine with a visit: The Hokusai-kan museum in central Obuse, long-established chestnut confectionery shops, and Ganshoin, known for its ceiling painting by Katsushika Hokusai and the mausoleum of Fukushima Masanori, are all within walking or cycling distance
• Budget guide: Visiting is free. Even including chestnut sweets, a meal and a rental bicycle, you can enjoy a full day for a few hundred to a few thousand yen

📚 Sources

The information about Jokoji was compiled by our editorial team from the temple guidance, Obuse Town tourism information, and interpretive signs on the grounds. The account of an old Shingon-shu Buzan-ha temple at the foot of Mount Karita whose Yakushi hall is an Important Cultural Property follows these public references. Because viewing hours and events change by year and season, please confirm the latest information from the temple or Obuse Town before your visit.

The visiting hours, the giving of goshuin stamps, the date and time of the goma ritual and the address in this article are compiled from information published by Jokoji Temple and the Obuse Culture and Tourism Association. The facts that the Yakushido was built in 1408 (the 15th year of the Oei era) and is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, that an inscription reading "Yakushido, built in the second month of the 15th year of Oei" was discovered during the major restoration of 1946-1947, that an inscription dated to the 16th year of Oei was found inside the statue of Yakushi Nyorai, and the re-thatching of the roof in 2007 and the 600th anniversary of its construction in 2008, all follow the accounts given in information published by the temple and in publicly available information on the nation's cultural heritage. Event dates and the availability of the amulet stall are subject to change, so please check the latest information from the temple and the town of Obuse before you visit.