Maeyama-ji Temple is a Shingon sect temple of the Chizan school located in Maeyama, Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture. Tradition holds that it was founded in 812 by Kūkai, also known as Kobo Daishi. Its mountain name is Dokugusha-zan or Dokko-zan, and its principal image is Dainichi Nyorai. Situated at the foot of Dokko-zan Mountain (1,266 meters), it's located at the inauspicious direction (kimon) of Shioda Castle.
Maeyama-ji Temple flourished during the Kamakura period as a prayer hall for the Shioda Hojo clan. Its history is long and rich, with many historic structures still standing. Its most famous is the three-storied pagoda, designated as a National Important Cultural Property. This pagoda, a blend of Japanese and Zen styles (wayo and zenshuyo), is of unknown construction date, though its style suggests the Muromachi period. It's a three-bay, three-storied structure standing 19.5 meters tall, with a thatched roof. Interestingly, the second and third stories lack windows, doors, balustrades, or eaves. However, long horizontal beams project from all four sides, creating a harmonious balance; hence its nickname, the "completed incomplete pagoda."
Maeyama-ji also boasts a main hall (hondo), approximately 400 years old, with ten bays across and eight bays deep, and a thatched roof; and an inner sanctuary called Iwayado, said to house an image of Kobo Daishi. Many other historically significant buildings remain.
The Shioda plain surrounding Maeyama-ji is sometimes called the "Kamakura of Shinano." As the former base of the Shioda Hojo clan, the area boasts a wealth of medieval cultural properties from the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. When visiting Maeyama-ji, consider exploring the other temples in the vicinity.
Nestled in a tranquil mountain setting, Maeyama-ji Temple is a historic temple offering a serene and memorable experience. Take your time exploring and soaking up the rich history.
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