Gyoki Temple

Around 1,300 years ago, during the early Nara period, the Buddhist monk Gyoki, who was traveling across Japan to raise funds for the construction of the Great Buddha, established this temple. With the imperial blessing of Emperor Shomu, Gyoki founded this temple as a spiritual sanctuary for the regions of Mino, Owari, and Ise. Within the temple grounds, there is a mound known as Gyoki-zuka, where it is said that Gyoki passed away at the age of 82 in 757. The site still retains important cultural properties, including a stone monument and a seven-story stone pagoda.

During the tumultuous Nanboku-cho period (about 700 years ago), the temple was destroyed by fire during the wars. However, the feudal lord of Tsushima in Owari and the temple’s followers rebuilt the temple on Mount Garyu. In the Genroku era (about 300 years ago), Matsudaira Yoshiyuki, the second son of Tokugawa Mitsutomo, the second lord of the Owari Domain, was appointed as the lord of the Takasu Domain in Mino. He reconstructed the temple as the Matsudaira family’s temple, completing it in 1705. For 160 years until the Meiji Restoration, the temple was closed to the general public. Today, the temple still houses various artifacts, including a palanquin used by the Matsudaira family and a large 2-meter clock tower that still keeps time.

Strolling Garden with Seasonal Flowers and Panoramic Views of the Nobi Plain

The temple’s garden, created by the monk Enzan at the same time as the temple’s reconstruction in 1705, is a strolling garden. On the west side of the study hall, there is a dry landscape garden that makes excellent use of natural rock formations, with a waterfall flowing over moss-covered rocks. On the east side, there is a garden with a panoramic view of the Nobi Plain, featuring 108 stepping stones. From the various study halls, you can enjoy views of the Nobi Plain, from the Chita Peninsula in the south to the Japanese Alps in the north.