A Temple with Origins in the Nara Period
The Founding Tradition of Gyōki
The history of Toko-in is traditionally traced back to the Nara period. According to temple tradition, in 735, the Buddhist monk Gyōki visited the area that is now part of Toyonaka.
At the time, a site on the southern bank of the Nakatsu River was known as Hama-no-Haka, or “Grave of the Beach.” Gyōki is said to have taught local people the practice of cremation, carved an image of Yakushi Nyorai, and offered hagi flowers before it.
With the support of local residents, a small hall dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai was subsequently built. This is regarded as the beginning of Toko-in.
Becoming a Soto Zen Temple
In 1681, the monk Reizen of Kōunji Temple in Sagami Province entered the temple and converted it to the Soto school of Zen Buddhism. At that time, it was given the name Toko-in.
The temple later experienced a period of decline, but it was revived during the Bunka era, from 1804 to 1818, under the leadership of the Zen master Miten Isshū. The revival was supported by donors Tonomura Heiuemon and Nakahara Shōbei.
After its revival, the temple flourished and became known by the expression “Shitennōji in the south, Toko-in in the north,” reflecting its prominence as a Buddhist center in the region.
Relocation and Development
Move to the Present Location
In 1914, Toko-in established its branch at its present location along the Takarazuka railway line at the request of Ichizō Kobayashi, the founder of Hankyu Railway.
The move helped the temple develop into an important landmark in the growing community along the railway. Its convenient location has continued to make it accessible to both local worshippers and visitors.
Merger and Buddhist Relics
In 1973, Toko-in incorporated Kokushō-in, a temple belonging to the Jōdo school of Buddhism.
In 1988, the temple received Buddhist relics from the Sri Lankan elder Kothahēne Jinaratana. This gift strengthened the temple’s international Buddhist connections and contributed to cultural exchange between Japan and Sri Lanka.
Unique Buddhist Statues and Cultural Heritage
The Koyori Kannon
One of Toko-in’s most unusual treasures is the standing statue of Juichimen Kannon, known as the Koyori Kannon.
According to tradition, the statue was created by court women associated with the Southern Court to pray for the repose of the spirit of Emperor Go-Daigo.
During restoration work in 1985, specialists discovered that sheets of paper containing passages from the Lotus Sutra had been cut into thin strips and used like twisted paper cords, or koyori, as part of the statue’s clothing.
This unusual construction technique made the statue particularly noteworthy and attracted attention as a rare example of Buddhist sculpture.
Heian-Period Seated Statue of Shaka Nyorai
Toko-in also preserves a remarkably small wooden seated statue of Shaka Nyorai, believed to date from the late Heian period.
The statue is only approximately 7.3 centimeters high. It is thought to have originally been created as a kebutsu, a manifestation of a principal Buddhist figure appearing within a larger image or religious composition.
The statue has been designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan and is currently entrusted to the Osaka Museum of Art for safekeeping.
Hagi Garden and Literary Connections
Hagi-ro-en Garden
The temple’s garden, known as Hagi-ro-en, was named by the renowned artist and gourmet Kitaōji Rosanjin. The garden has been selected as one of the Osaka Green Hundred, a list recognizing outstanding green spaces in Osaka Prefecture.
Every autumn, the hagi bushes burst into delicate blossoms, creating an elegant landscape that has long attracted visitors. The quiet garden offers a particularly beautiful setting for experiencing the changing seasons of Japan.
A Haiku Monument to Masaoka Shiki
The famous haiku poet Masaoka Shiki once visited Toko-in and praised the beauty of its hagi. A monument inscribed with his haiku stands within the temple grounds.
The monument adds a literary dimension to the temple’s reputation as the “Temple of Hagi,” attracting not only worshippers but also visitors interested in Japanese poetry and traditional seasonal aesthetics.
Buildings and Highlights within the Temple Grounds
Main Hall – Kisshōrin Entsūden
The present main hall, known as Kisshōrin Entsūden, was rebuilt in 1999. It houses the temple’s principal image of Yakushi Nyorai and the principal image of the Shin-Saigoku Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage, the standing Koyori Kannon.
The hall also enshrines the Important Cultural Property of Shaka Nyorai and a statue of Bishamonten, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of the Saigoku tradition.
Tōshōkaku Buddhist Relic Hall
The Tōshōkaku Buddhist Relic Hall is a historic building relocated from the former Ruri-den, the Buddhist hall associated with the former Kawasaki Tōshōgū Shrine.
The building is designated as a Tangible Cultural Property of Toyonaka City and forms an important part of the temple’s architectural heritage.
Dōryō Daigongen Hall
The Dōryō Daigongen Hall is dedicated to Dōryō Daigongen, a protective deity associated with Japanese mountain Buddhism. The shrine tradition holds that the deity was invited and enshrined by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Hall of the Thirty-Three Kannon
The Thirty-Three Kannon Hall was built in 1833. It enshrines statues representing the Kannon figures associated with the Saigoku Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage, one of Japan’s best-known Buddhist pilgrimage traditions.
Access
Toko-in is located approximately 300 meters north of Sone Station on the Hankyu Takarazuka Line. The temple is easily accessible on foot and can be conveniently combined with other historic and cultural attractions in Toyonaka.
A Temple of Flowers, Buddhist Art, and History
Butsunichizan Toko-in Temple brings together more than a thousand years of religious tradition, beautiful seasonal scenery, and an impressive collection of Buddhist cultural heritage.
Its identity as the “Temple of Hagi” makes it particularly attractive in autumn, when the garden is filled with the delicate flowers that have inspired visitors and poets for generations. At the same time, the Koyori Kannon, Heian-period Buddhist sculpture, historic halls, and pilgrimage traditions offer fascinating insights into Japanese Buddhist culture.
The temple’s connections with Sri Lanka and its history of Buddhist exchange add another dimension to its heritage. For travelers exploring Toyonaka, Toko-in is a peaceful place where Japanese Buddhism, traditional gardens, art, literature, and seasonal nature come together.