A religious spot you have to visit when you are in Kusatsu Onsen is Kōsenji Temple (光泉寺). Even if you aren’t interested in visiting a temple, you can still get a wide view of Kusatsu Onsen’s township from the temple’s gate atop the staircases behind the communal bathhouse, Shirahata no Yu (白旗の湯)!
Together with Arima Onsen’s Onsenji in Kobe and Yamanaka Onsen’s Iōji in Ishikawa Prefecture, they are known as Japan’s Top Three Hot Spring Healing Buddha Temples (日本三大温泉薬師). Also, Kōsenji was erected in 721 by Gyōki (行基), the highly-regarded monk in the Nara period who contributed greatly to Nara‘s Todaiji’s Great Buddha!
Tip: An event called Yubatake Candle Yume no Akari (湯畑キャンドル 夢の灯り) was sometimes held at Kōsenji at night on the 2nd and the 4th Saturday of each month and the long weekends. Around 1,500 candles are placed on the staircases leading to the temple when the event is on, creating a fantastic and alluring atmosphere.
Kōsenji Temple’s History
When Gyōki established Kōsenji, it was named Yakushidō (薬師堂). The temple’s name was then changed to Kōsenji when Minamoto no Yoritomo (源頼朝) bathed at Kusatsu Onsen in 1193.
But the temple underwent a period of desolation. Fortunately, in 1200, there was a restructuring of Shirane Shrine (白根神社) ordered by the Yumoto clan (湯本氏), who governed Kusatsu Onsen. As a part of the reconstruction, Kōsenji was renovated and became the guardian temple of Shirane Shrine.
When the Samurais ruled Japan, Kōsenji owned monk soldiers and participated in several civil wars. In the Nanboku-chō period (南北朝時代), Kōsenji once belonged to the Southern Court, so the famous warriors of the Southern Court are enshrined in the temple.
In 1481, because a nobleman, Konoe Dōkō (近衛道興), who became a monk, resided at Kōsenji, the temple was once an imperial temple. It was a period when many noblemen at the time stayed at Kōsenji when they visited Kusatsu Onsen.
Unfortunately, most of the splendid buildings of Kōsenji were burnt to ashes in the Edo period due to two fire incidents (once in 1710 and the other in 1756). So the current main worship hall Shakadō, restored in 1703, only has around 300 years of history.
The Late Blooming Buddha at Kōsenji
Since long ago, it has been said that the Gautama Buddha at Kōsenji’s Shakadō (釈迦堂) was built in the late 17th century by Kōkei (公慶上人), who contributed greatly to Nara‘s Todaiji’s reconstruction. And the wood used to make the statue was curved from the Great Buddha when a space inside the statue was created.
But this part of the history remained unconfirmed for around 300 years until an investigation was completed in 2005. The locals later nicknamed this Gautama Buddha the Late Blooming Buddha and have been worshipped by those who still wished to be successful after they passed middle age.
There is even a late-blooming amulet (遅咲きおみくじ) that you can purchase!
Memorial Tower for Bathing Deceased (入浴逝者供養塔)
Whilst it is certain that Kusatsu’s hot spring can help people recover from diseases, it isn’t possible to heal or cure everything. So over the years, some would still pass away from their illness at Kusatsu Onsen.
Thus in 1905, a pagoda was erected in Kōsenji to pray for their afterlife.
The Bathing Benzaiten (湯浴み弁財天)
When Gyōki visited Kusatsu, he prayed for those suffering from illness. Soon after his prayer, he discovered the hot spring with great medical benefits. He then erected Kōsenji and enshrined a healing Buddha, hoping those who were ill could be healthy again.
Since then, the hot spring has been treated as a spring of mercy that heals people’s illnesses, which is the foundation of today’s Kusatsu Onsen Town.
The pond in Kōsenji is therefore named “Fountain of Compassion (慈悲の泉)”, and a Benzaiten is enshrined.
Why enshrine a Benzaiten? It is an expression of appreciation of the hot spring that, after bathing in it, the people’s minds and bodies are purified.
Tip: If you want to see the Benzaiten, visit Kōsenji on the 7th and 8th of May, the 16th of August, or the 8th of October.
Other Buddhas and Guardian Deities Enshrined in Kōsenji
Many other Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Guardian Deities are enshrined in Kōsenji.
On the stairs to the temple’s main worship hall, Shakadō, there is a small hall called Tōzendō (湯善堂), enshrining the guardian deity of the hot spring.
On Kōsenji’s ground, there is also a Hot Spring, Kannon Bodhisattva (温泉観音).
And, of course, there are many Jizō Bodhisattva in the temple. But unlike many temples in Japan, many Jizō Bodhisattva statues at Kōsenji have facial expressions, all different from each other. So if you are not in a hurry, how about finding your favorite Jizō Bodhisattva?
Kōsenji’s Opening Hours and Access Information
- Kōsenji is open from 8 am to 6 pm.
- Kōsenji is just a 1-minute walk from Kusatsu Onsen Bus Terminal.
Discover Other Attractions in Kusatsu Onsen
Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture has a lot more to offer. Whether it is soba noodles, traditional sweets or outdoor activities, such as obstacle courses and skiing, you surely won’t be bored at Kusatsu Onsen!
For more information, refer to our article on Kusatsu Onsen (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ.
