A Historic Temple Founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu
A Temple Dedicated to the Ancestor of the Tokugawa Family
Daikoin was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu to pray for the posthumous welfare of Nitta Yoshishige, who was regarded by the Tokugawa family as one of their ancestors.
In 1611, Ieyasu began planning the construction of a family temple where prayers could be offered for the prosperity of the Tokugawa family and peace throughout the realm. He consulted Kanchi Kokushi, a senior monk of Zojoji Temple in Shiba, Tokyo, regarding a suitable location.
The southern foothills of historic Mount Kanayama in Ota were eventually selected. In 1613, the eminent Jodo Buddhist monk Donryu Shonin was invited to serve as the founding abbot of the new temple.
From the beginning, Daikoin received strong support from the Tokugawa shogunate. It was granted a 300-koku朱印地, or officially recognized temple territory producing an assessed annual income of 300 koku of rice, reflecting its high status under the shogunate.
During the Edo period, Daikoin was also counted among the 18 Danrin of the Kanto region, a network of major Jodo Buddhist institutions where monks received advanced training.
Why the Temple Is Called “Kosodate Donryu”
Donryu Shonin’s Compassion for Children
One of the main reasons Daikoin became so widely revered was the compassionate work of its founding abbot, Donryu Shonin.
In the early Edo period, poverty and difficult living conditions in rural communities sometimes led to the tragic practice known as mabiki, in which infants were abandoned or killed because families felt unable to support them.
Donryu Shonin is said to have been deeply distressed by this situation. He began taking in children from poor families and raising them as disciples at the temple, providing them with food, shelter, education, and a place to live.
Because of his efforts to protect and raise children, local people came to affectionately call him “Kosodate Donryu,” or “Donryu the Child-Raiser.”
This tradition of faith continues today. Daikoin is especially popular for prayers for safe childbirth, children’s health and growth, first shrine-or-temple visits for newborns, and Shichi-Go-San celebrations. Families visit not only from Gunma but from throughout the wider Kanto region.
Extensive Grounds and Historic Buildings
The spacious grounds of Daikoin contain numerous historic structures and features. The architecture itself is one of the temple’s principal attractions, offering visitors an opportunity to appreciate traditional Japanese Buddhist design.
Main Hall
The Main Hall is the central building of Daikoin. It is a large structure built in the Kyoma style, traditionally associated with the dimensions used in Kyoto-style Japanese architecture. The building measures approximately 13 bays from east to west and 11.5 bays from north to south.
Its roof is constructed in the irimoya-zukuri style, a traditional hipped-and-gabled roof form that gives the building a dignified and imposing appearance.
The center of the hall houses the principal image of worship, the Amida Triad, consisting of Amida Nyorai, Kannon Bosatsu, and Seishi Bosatsu.
The statue of Amida is traditionally attributed to the Buddhist sculptor An’ami, while the statues of Kannon and Seishi are traditionally attributed to Unkei. The three images are regarded as important Buddhist artworks.
The hall also contains memorial tablets for Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nitta Yoshishige, and successive Tokugawa shoguns, further reflecting the temple’s historical connection with the Tokugawa family.
Founder’s Hall
The grounds also contain the Founder’s Hall, dedicated to Donryu Shonin.
The present building was constructed in 1934 and incorporates elaborate architectural elements inspired by the Momoyama period. It is also regarded as one of Japan’s early examples of a large Buddhist structure constructed using reinforced concrete, giving it significance from an architectural-historical perspective.
Inside the hall is a sacred image traditionally believed to have been created by Donryu Shonin himself.
Great Abbot’s Quarters and Small Abbot’s Quarters
Near the Main Hall are the Great Abbot’s Quarters and Small Abbot’s Quarters, traditionally used as residences for the temple’s head priest.
The Great Abbot’s Quarters stand slightly lower than the Main Hall. According to tradition, this arrangement was intended to show respect for the Main Hall, which enshrines the ancestors of the Tokugawa family.
The layout of the temple therefore provides another subtle reminder of the close historical relationship between Daikoin and the Tokugawa family.
Kisshomon Gate: A Designated Cultural Property
A Gate Associated with the Tokugawa Shogunate
At the entrance to Daikoin stands Kisshomon Gate, designated as a tangible cultural property by Ota City.
The wooden gate has a traditional kirizuma-zukuri gabled roof and is built in the sangen-ikko hakkyakumon style, featuring three bays and eight supporting posts.
According to tradition, the gate was originally constructed as a temporary gate in 1615. A local legend says that its ridgepole was raised on the very day Osaka Castle fell during the final stages of the Siege of Osaka.
Because this event was considered an auspicious turning point, the gate came to be called “Kisshomon,” meaning “Auspicious Gate.”
The roof is decorated with tiles bearing the three-leaf hollyhock crest of the Tokugawa family, a visible reminder of the temple’s close association with the shogunate.
The roof was repaired in 2000, with tiles reproducing those believed to have been used when the gate was originally constructed.
Highlights Around the Temple Grounds
Garyu Pine
In front of the Main Hall stands a black pine tree believed to be more than 350 years old.
Known as Garyu-no-Matsu, or the “Lying Dragon Pine,” its branches spread in a shape reminiscent of a dragon resting on the ground.
The tree is traditionally said to have been planted by Donryu Shonin and has become one of the symbols of Daikoin. Many visitors stop here to admire the unusual form and take photographs.
The Graves of Nitta Yoshishige and Donryu Shonin
Behind the Main Hall are the graves of Nitta Yoshishige, whose connection with the temple’s foundation is central to its history, and Donryu Shonin, its founding abbot.
The graves are of particular interest to visitors fascinated by the history of medieval and early modern Japan.
Benzaiten Worship
Daikoin is one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Gunma and enshrines Benzaiten, the Buddhist deity associated with water, music, learning, and the arts.
Many visitors pray here for business prosperity, success in the arts, and improvement of artistic skills. The temple can become especially lively around New Year’s and during periods when people take part in Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimages.
Seasonal Events and Festivals
Daikoin holds a variety of Buddhist ceremonies and events throughout the year.
Founder’s Memorial Great Prayer Service
One of the temple’s best-known events is the Great Prayer Service for the Founder’s Memorial, held annually from September 7 to 9.
During this period, many visitors come to offer prayers for the healthy growth of children and safe childbirth, creating a particularly lively atmosphere throughout the temple grounds.
Kanto Grand Chrysanthemum Exhibition
From October 25 to November 25, Daikoin hosts the Kanto Grand Chrysanthemum Exhibition.
The temple grounds are decorated with colorful chrysanthemum displays, making the exhibition a popular autumn attraction and a seasonal highlight for visitors to Ota.
Featured in Jomo Karuta
Daikoin is also featured in Jomo Karuta, a famous local card game that introduces the history, culture, and landmarks of Gunma Prefecture.
The “O” card features the phrase “Ota Kanayama, Kosodate Donryu”, referring to Mount Kanayama in Ota and the temple’s beloved image as “Kosodate Donryu.”
Together with the historic Kanayama Castle Ruins, Daikoin is regarded as one of the symbolic sights of Ota. The temple offers visitors the chance to experience the area’s history, religious culture, architecture, and natural surroundings in one place.
The Life and Legacy of Donryu Shonin
Donryu Shonin, whose religious name was Genrensha Nenzen and whose courtesy name was Koshin, was an influential Jodo Buddhist monk who lived during the transition from the Warring States period to the early Edo period.
He was born in Saitama District of Musashi Province and entered the Buddhist priesthood at a young age. He later studied at Zojoji Temple in Shiba, one of the major Jodo Buddhist institutions of the period.
He eventually became the head priest of Daizenji Temple in Hachioji, one of the 18 Danrin of the Kanto region. He is remembered as an important monk who contributed to the development of education and training for Jodo Buddhist priests in the Kanto region.
In 1613, at the request of Tokugawa Ieyasu, he became the founding abbot of Daikoin and helped spread Jodo Buddhist teachings in Ota.
His disciplined yet compassionate character earned him widespread respect. Stories of his efforts to protect and raise children have continued to be passed down through generations and remain central to the temple’s identity today.
Access to Daikoin Temple
By Train
Daikoin Temple is approximately a 20-minute walk from Ota Station on the Tobu Railway network.
By Car
The temple is approximately 10 minutes by car from Ota-Kiryu Interchange on the Kita-Kanto Expressway.
It is also approximately 40 minutes from Tatebayashi Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway.
A Historic Temple at the Heart of Ota
Daikoin Temple brings together several layers of Japanese history and culture: its connection with Tokugawa Ieyasu, the legacy of the Nitta family, the compassionate story of Donryu Shonin, traditional Buddhist architecture, and the continuing faith of local families.
Visitors can explore the spacious temple grounds, admire historic buildings and the centuries-old Garyu Pine, visit the graves of important historical figures, and experience seasonal Buddhist events.
For travelers exploring Ota City, Daikoin is a particularly meaningful destination for discovering the religious and cultural heritage of Gunma while experiencing the quiet atmosphere of a historic Japanese temple.