Nagano, Nagano / 善光寺
Zenko-ji Temple
A temple said to have been founded about 1,400 years ago. The present main hall, rebuilt in 1707 in the mid-Edo period, is a wooden building about 24 m wide and 54 m deep in the "shumoku-zukuri" style unique to Zenko-ji, keeping alive the custom of many pilgrims spending the night in prayer; it was designated a National Treasure in 1953. Since the Heian period people have come from all over Japan to this temple, which saves people regardless of sect.
Last official check
26 Sept 2026
Traveler reports
0
Reports open in Phase 2
Next scheduled check
25 Dec 2026
Decide before you go
A short summary made from the official facts below. Check the rows for details.
- Getting there
- Train / Bus
- Admission
- Paid (see the price below)
Before you go
Only facts we confirmed on official sources are shown. Anything else is marked “Not checked yet”.
- Opening hours
Sunrise to sunset (varies by season between 4:30 and 16:30).
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Closed
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Admission
Worship free. Inner sanctuary ticket: general 800 yen, junior high and high school 300 yen, elementary 100 yen. Set ticket (inner sanctuary, Okaidan-meguri, gate, sutra hall, museum) 1,500 yen.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Getting there
About 30 minutes on foot from JR Nagano Station, or about 10 minutes by bus to Zenkoji Daimon.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Parking
Zenko-ji car parks 1, 3, 4 and 5 (24 hours). Cars 600 yen for up to 2 hours, then 200 yen per hour.
Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site- Payment
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
- Accessibility
Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
Found wrong or outdated information? Let us know
Address: Nagano, Nagano (Japanese address: 長野県長野市大字長野元善町491-イ)
Official site: https://www.nagano-cvb.or.jp/modules/sightseeing/page/1
Location
Smaller pins are other spots nearby.
Nearby spots
- No photo yetOkaidan-meguri (Zenko-ji)NaganoLess than 1 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetNagano Prefectural Art MuseumNaganoLess than 1 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetJoyama ZooNaganoLess than 1 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetM-Wave (Nagano Olympic Memorial Arena)Nagano5 km away (straight line)
- No photo yetForest Adventure NaganoNagano6 km away (straight line)
Distances are straight-line distances, not travel distances.
Crowds
- Crowd level
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Best time to visit
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Peak time
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Busiest days
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Busiest season
Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
- Latest traveler report
- None yet
Traveler crowd data by time of day appears after 5 traveler reports (0 so far).
You can check typical busy hours in Google Maps ("Popular times" on the place's page). Open this spot in Google Maps
Visiting respectfully
- PhotographyThe grounds are private property; filming or photographing the grounds and buildings for media or publications, and using photos or illustrations, requires prior application. Location shoots such as pre-wedding photos have a separate procedure.Checked 26 Sept 2026 on the official site
Verification log
- 26 Sept 2026First check · Tourism board · https://www.nagano-cvb.or.jp/modules/sightseeing/page/1Hours, fees, access, parking, description, address and coordinates read from a tourism organization's site.
- 26 Sept 2026First check · Official website · https://www.zenkoji.jp/press/Photography read from the official site.