Ryugenji Temple

overview

Ryugenji Temple, Kinreizan, Soto sect of Zen Buddhism.
Ryugenji Temple was founded in 1623 (Genna 9)by Mitsutaka Utechi and his son Mitsuhisa, who received 3,000 koku of Yashima from the province of Hitachi, as a family temple of the Utechi clan.
In 2023, the temple celebrated its 400th anniversary. Since Mitsuhisa, the second generation of the Utechi family, had no heir, he was forced to give up his domain, and in 1748 (Kan’ei 17), Takatoshi Ikoma, the fourth lord of Takamatsu, Shikoku, with 170,000 koku, was transferred to Yashima due to a dispute among his retainers, and Ryugenji Temple was made his family temple.
The grounds of Ryugenji Temple, including the cemetery, are said to cover an area of approximately 6,000 tsubo, a rare example of a large temple in Akita Prefecture.
Ryugenji Temple also houses items related to the Ikoma family, such as a battle surcoat and portraits of feudal lords.
The main hall with its magnificent thatched roof was designated as a National Tangible Cultural Property in 2004(Heisei 16).