Jindaiji Temple in Chofu City is a destination that appeals to both adults and children. With attractions like the Kitaro Tea House, numerous soba restaurants, and temple grounds surrounded by lush greenery, there is plenty to enjoy. Here we'll introduce everything about Jindaiji Temple, its grounds, and surrounding area.
What Kind of Place is Jindaiji Temple?
Jindaiji Temple was founded during the Nara period as a Hosso sect temple and later converted to the Tendai sect. The principal image is the Amida Sanzon statue in the main hall. The Shakado Hall houses the National Treasure - the Shaka Nyorai statue (Hakuho Buddha).
The temple grounds contain six halls including the main hall and Shakado Hall, allowing for temple touring in a short time. It's also recommended to visit the poem monuments and song monuments. As you proceed along the approach, you'll find a large mountain gate with the main hall on the right and the Shaka Nyorai statue (Hakuho Buddha) on the left. This is considered the oldest National Treasure Buddha statue in eastern Japan and is historically very precious.
The temple grounds and surrounding area are rich in nature, where you can enjoy seasonal plants like Nanjamonja and weeping Katsura trees throughout the four seasons. The approach is lined with restaurants and souvenir shops, where you can taste famous soba and sweets while strolling through the traditional townscape. On weekends, it becomes a popular spot bustling with many tourists.
Take a Leisurely Walk Through the Historic Townscape
While taking the bus to Jindaiji Temple is convenient, it's also accessible on foot from Chofu Station. At the entrance to Tenjin-dori Shopping Street, characters like Kitaro, Nekomusume, and Nurikabe greet visitors. From the station, it takes about 20 minutes including uphill sections.
The temple grounds and surrounding area have over 20 soba restaurants, and you can also enjoy pottery experiences at "Musashino Jindaiji Kiln."
Additionally, two of the three natural springs in Chofu City are located at Jindaiji Temple, making them popular power spots. These are "Jindaiji Fudo Falls" on the east side of Fudo Hall and the spring water flowing from the north side of Jinshadaio Hall. The clear sound of water envelops the temple grounds, creating a pleasant atmosphere.
Furthermore, the waterwheel house, built in response to local residents' voices, demonstrates rice polishing and buckwheat grinding.
Jindaiji Daruma Market
The representative event of Jindaiji Temple is the "Daruma Market." Held annually on March 3rd and 4th, it's known as one of Japan's three major daruma markets. Over 100 stalls line the temple grounds, and at the "Daruma Eye-Opening Station," you can have Sanskrit characters unique to Jindaiji Temple inscribed in the eyes of purchased daruma dolls.
Even outside the festival period, daruma goods are available at surrounding shops, with daruma fortune slips and stickers being popular. Some stores carry original character "Dar-chan" goods, which are well-received by tourists.
Jindaiji Hozuki (Chinese Lantern Plant) Festival
The summer tradition "Hozuki Festival" is held annually in late July. Bright red hozuki plants color the temple grounds, announcing summer's arrival. In mid-July, a "Handmade Market" featuring handicrafts and baked goods is also held.
Enjoy Local Specialties in the Nature-Rich Temple Grounds
Jindaiji Temple is also famous as a soba destination. It's said that during the Edo period, nearby farmers offered buckwheat flour to the temple, and soba made from it spread from there. Currently, there are over 20 soba restaurants in and around the temple grounds, offering everything from set meals around 1,000 yen to authentic course cuisine.
Popular restaurants like "Aokiya," "Suzume no Oyado," "Tamon," and "Suzuya" feature attractive outdoor seating where you can dine while listening to the sounds of water and birdsong. Since it gets particularly crowded around noon, early visits are recommended.
To accompany the soba, you can enjoy "Jindaiji Beer Pilzen" and "Jindaiji Beer Munchen." "Chofu Beer" is also popular, attracting many visitors for craft beer tours.
At the sweet shop "Ameya," "soba bread" made with buckwheat flour is a specialty. It's healthy with many varieties, and the charm is that ingredients change daily. Soba sandwiches and soba manjuu are also popular.
Receive Jindaiji Temple's Exclusive Goshuin
Jindaiji Temple typically offers three types of goshuin stamp seals. Original Jindaiji goshuin books are also available for purchase.
Recommended Tourist Spots to Visit with Jindaiji Temple
Tokyo Metropolitan Jindai Botanical Garden
Jindai Botanical Garden spreads to the north of Jindaiji Temple. Near the main entrance, 280 varieties and 12,000 azalea plants bloom. The adjacent rose garden's roses flower in spring and autumn. The spring roses planted in the garden are particularly spectacular. In front of the garden is a large greenhouse displaying plants from tropical regions and cacti and succulents from arid zones. You can also admire beautiful orchids, begonias, and water lilies.
On the Jindaiji Gate side are plum, camellia, and sasanqua gardens. The plum garden has 210 plum trees planted. In this way, Jindai Botanical Garden offers beautiful flowering trees to see in any season.
There are two entrances: the main gate and Jindaiji Gate. If heading first to the garden and greenhouse, walk from the "Jindai Botanical Garden-mae" bus stop. You can pass through the park to reach Jindaiji Temple grounds, and vice versa.
The Aquatic Plant Garden is located south across from Jindaiji Temple grounds. Wooden walkways are maintained in wetlands created by spring water from behind Jindaiji Temple. You can observe waterside plants like kakitsubata and Japanese iris.
Yugamori no Sato
After leisurely exploring Jindaiji Temple, "Yugamori no Sato" is perfect for refreshing yourself. It takes less than 10 minutes to arrive from Jindaiji Temple. It's a sodium chloride hot spring where you can enjoy the full-strength natural hot spring water. The characteristic black water, like coffee, is distinctive. A shuttle bus to the station runs once an hour, so the return trip is worry-free.
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
The National Astronomical Observatory is immediately accessible from the Tenmondai bus stop and about a 25-minute walk from Jindaiji Temple.
The National Astronomical Observatory is Japan's national center for astronomy, housing world-class cutting-edge observation facilities in Mitaka City's Osawa district. It's a research institution at the core of Japanese astronomy. As a inter-university research institute, it provides large-scale astronomical observation and research facilities to researchers nationwide while broadly promoting astronomical research and astronomical observation equipment development.
Furthermore, as a world-leading research institution, it operates under international cooperation for astronomy's advancement. The grounds contain untouched natural forests where removing plants is prohibited. Historic astronomical buildings are scattered throughout these wooded areas and are open to the public.
Major facilities include the First Equatorial Instrument Room, Einstein Tower, and Large Equatorial Instrument Room, but there are other observation buildings, most of which can be entered for viewing. Inside the dimly lit observation facilities, various instruments are densely displayed, also serving as museums.
Old telescopes actually used for observation are installed there, and their size and mechanically substantial presence, unlike today's mainstream electronic digital equipment, has an impressive quality that captivates viewers. Special open houses and regular astronomical observation meetings are held twice monthly. Admission is free.
Chofu Airport
Chofu Airport is immediately accessible from the Chofu Airport-mae bus stop and about a 15-minute drive from Jindaiji Temple.
Chofu Airport is one of Tokyo Metropolitan Government's airports, serving as a commuter airport with regular small aircraft flights to Oshima, Niijima, and other Izu Islands. During wartime, the army used it as an aviation base for capital defense, where Type 3 fighters "Hien" and other fighter aircraft reportedly intercepted B-29 bombers during air raids.
After being under U.S. military control post-war, this airport was returned in 1973 and is currently used as a civilian airport for propeller aircraft. Though it's a small airport with no commercial facilities in the passenger terminal, it's a rare spot where you can have tea at the on-site Propeller Cafe while watching aircraft take off and land, or view aircraft up close in the adjacent hangar.
Medium-sized propeller aircraft operating on Izu Island routes make nostalgic, distinctive engine sounds. Cessna aircraft frequently take off and land.
The runway measures 800m (length) × 30m (width) and serves as a base for remote island aviation routes connecting Honshu with Oshima, Kozushima, and other Izu Islands. During major disasters, it also serves as a base for emergency firefighting and medical activities.
Access Information
By Bus
From Chofu Station (Central Exit)
- To Jindaiji: Get off at "Jindaiji," 1-minute walk
- To Kichijoji: Get off at "Jindaiji Elementary School-mae," 5-minute walk
- To Kyorin University Hospital: Get off at "Jindaiji Elementary School-mae," 5-minute walk
- To Kichijoji: Get off at "Jindaiji Entrance," 8-minute walk
- To Mitaka Station: Get off at "Jindaiji Entrance," 8-minute walk
From Tsutsujigaoka Station (North Exit)
- To Jindaiji: Get off at "Jindaiji," 1-minute walk
From JR Kichijoji Station (South Exit)
- To Jindaiji: Get off at "Jindaiji," 3-minute walk
- To Chofu Station Central Exit: Get off at "Jindaiji Entrance," 3-minute walk
From JR Mitaka Station (South Exit)
- To Jindaiji: Get off at "Jindaiji," 3-minute walk
- To Chofu Station Central Exit: Get off at "Jindaiji Entrance," 8-minute walk
Basic Information
Jindaiji Temple
Address: 5-15-1 Jindaiji Motomachi, Chofu City, Tokyo
Phone: 042-486-5511
General Reception: Jindaiji Temple Office
