Zuiganji is the family temple of Masamune Date, a famous feudal lord of the Age of Civil Wars of the 15th and 16th centuries. The temple was originally founded in 828. After deterioration through the civil war period it was restored by Masamune Date and his aesthetic styling can be seen throughout the buildings.

The main hall and Kuri (the Zen kitchen) are designated national treasures. Inside the main hall the brilliant paintings on the sliding doors are a must see. The graceful Ume (Japanese plum) blossoms surrounding the main hall are exhilarating in spring. Visitors can also see Masamune’s aesthetics in the arabesque-pattern engravings in the Kuri.

Zuiganji offers much to see including officially designated Important Cultural Properties (Onarimon Gate, Nakamon Gate and Taiko-bei Wall), and a series of caves used for memorial services including the rock cave known as Hosshinkutsu.

The treasure house Seido-den exhibits paintings and tea ceremony items connected with the Date families along with the original paintings of the main hall’s sliding doors.

Zuiganji is one of the four temples of the Shiji Kairo Pilgrimage trail along with Chusonji and Motsuji in Hiraizumi, Iwate and Risshakuji in the mountains of Yamagata.

The renowned Entsuin temple is in the same complex and there are a number of restaurants and souvenir shops where visitors can take a break. Godaido Hall, the temple founded by Masamune previous to Zuiganji, is located nearby on the shore of Matsushima Bay.

After enjoying the breath-taking views across Matsushima Bay – known as one of Japan’s top three scenic sights – these temples are the perfect place to calm the mind and feel the spirit of the feudal Date family.

A thematic journey in the Tohoku region:Okuno Hosomichi・The History of Michinoku