Last updated: April 24, 2024
This beautiful Zen temple in the city of Kiryu is renowned for its attractive grounds, and particularly its highly polished floors that reflect more than 100 maple trees growing outside. The floor is revealed for seasonal events, and autumn is the most popular time to visit. Hotokuji Temple is accessible from Tokyo by train and bus.
It takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach Hotokuji Temple from Tokyo by train, with a transfer at Takasaki Station. From Kiryu Station, take a local bus to the temple. The trip takes around 20 minutes. Alternatively, take a 15-minute taxi ride from the station to the temple.
You can board Hokuriku and Joetsu shinkansen services at Tokyo Station.
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Shinkansen trains from Tokyo Station reach Takasaki Station in under 1 hour. The train fare is covered by various Japan Rail Passes.
Takasaki is a stop on the Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines, and the gateway to Gunma: express trains and local trains from Tokyo stop at Takasaki Station. You can transfer to local trains and buses for destinations across Gunma.
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At Takasaki Station, you can transfer to a local Ryomo Line train to Kiryu Station. The trip takes around 50 minutes.
The station serves as a gateway to the city of Kiryu, which has a rich heritage of silk production. Buses and taxis are available near the north exit of the station, for destinations in eastern Gunma.
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Take a local Kawauchi Line bus to Hotokuji Iriguchi Bus Stop. You can pay the fare in cash or with a transportation IC card as you exit the bus. The trip takes around 20 minutes.
The bus stop is near a small road leading to Hotokuji Temple, indicated by a large stone marker. The stop is easy to miss, so let the driver know that you want to go to Hotokuji Iriguchi.
From the bus stop, it takes about 5 minutes to walk to the temple. Seasonal events such as spring blooms and autumn foliage attract a large number of visitors, so it is a good idea to go early during those times.
You can use the JR Tokyo Wide Pass, JR East Pass, and other JR passes for trains on this route. However, bus fares must be paid separately. There are many passes and travel combinations to discover, so use the links below to find your ideal travel plan.
・JR East Pass
・JR Tokyo Wide Pass
・Japan Rail Pass
・JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass
Save time and purchase train tickets and passes, and reserve seats online, before you travel.
Takasaki and Maebashi offer a wide range of accommodations with easy access to Kiryu. For a unique experience, try a temple stay in Kiryu, at Kannon-in Temple.
