Admission
Free
Shinjuku, Tokyo Prefecture
At a Glance
Kōkoku-ji houses a futuristic octagonal columbarium called Ruriden with 2,046 digitized crystal Buddhas that light up via smart card when visitors come to honor their deceased loved ones.
Two ancient ginkgo trees at Kōkoku-ji, estimated to be over 300 years old, survived both the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the devastating air raids of 1945.
The temple's columbarium stores cremated remains for exactly 33 years before burial, reflecting the traditional Buddhist belief that the deceased's spirit completes its journey in that timeframe.
Regular
¥300
Free
Expect a quiet residential setting with cemetery grounds; keep voices low and behave respectfully while walking through the precinct.
Plan to visit after 4:00 PM if you want to see the temple's famous cats, as this is when local cat lovers arrive to feed them their daily treats.
Visit for a calmer stop rather than a major sightseeing rush; the temple is described as a quiet place in a neighborhood setting.
Consider visiting during cherry blossom season in late March or fall leaf season in November to see the temple grounds at their most photogenic, though the cemetery monuments also have a stark beauty when covered in snow during winter months.
Visit the Ruriden columbarium with its 2,046 digitized crystal Buddhas, a unique modern Buddhist memorial structure that contrasts beautifully with the traditional temple architecture.
Walk past the outer buildings through the torii gates to reach the temple proper, where you will find the main shrine with a temple bell and small cemetery to the left, and a larger cemetery area with the giant ginkgo trees to the right.
Make sure to visit the two ancient ginkgo trees estimated to be over 300 years old, located in the cemetery to the right of the main shrine.
Take time to explore the spacious and quiet courtyard, as this temple receives relatively few visitors compared to other Tokyo temples, making it an ideal spot for peaceful contemplation.
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Facilities
Experience
Fascinating facts about this place
Kōkoku-ji houses a futuristic octagonal columbarium called Ruriden with 2,046 digitized crystal Buddhas that light up via smart card when visitors come to honor their deceased loved ones.
Two ancient ginkgo trees at Kōkoku-ji, estimated to be over 300 years old, survived both the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the devastating air raids of 1945.
The temple's columbarium stores cremated remains for exactly 33 years before burial, reflecting the traditional Buddhist belief that the deceased's spirit completes its journey in that timeframe.
Each of the ancient ginkgo trees wears a small plaque around its thick, gnarled trunk proudly proclaiming its estimated age of three centuries.
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