Kōsenji is designated as the fourth temple in the Kusatsu Onsen Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage route.
The temple grounds contain a stone statue of Jizō Bodhisattva that has been worn smooth by the prayers and touches of visitors over centuries.
It maintains a deep historical connection to the development of Kusatsu as a therapeutic hot spring destination during the Edo period.
The temple architecture features traditional Japanese Buddhist design elements adapted to the mountainous terrain of the Joshin'etsukogen National Park area.
Kōsenji Temple is a Jōdo-shū Buddhist temple situated on a hillside overlooking the historic Yubatake hot spring area in Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture. It is officially known as Kōsenji-san Kōmyō-in. The temple grounds house a well-known wooden statue of Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of medicine and healing. A notable feature is the 17th-century bell tower, which remains one of the oldest structures in the town. The temple serves as the fourth stop on the Kusatsu Onsen Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage. Visitors reach the main hall by climbing a stone staircase that offers views of the surrounding townscape and steam-filled vents. The temple complex is integrated into the town’s hot spring infrastructure, historically serving the spiritual needs of bathers and pilgrims.
The top of the stone staircase looking down toward the steaming Yubatake square.
Wear comfortable walking shoes with good grip for the steep stone steps leading to the main hall.
Visit during the early evening to see the temple grounds illuminated while the Yubatake area steam glows below.
Take time to walk the perimeter of the temple grounds to find the smaller stone monuments and Jizō statues hidden among the trees.
Do not wear restrictive or formal footwear that makes climbing uneven stone stairs difficult.
Maintain silence in the temple precincts, remove shoes if entering any wooden buildings, and do not photograph the interior of the main hall.
