Koufuku-ji Temple

Keifukuji

Place of worship • 135 Shinhonjichō, Tottori, 680-0812, Japan

3.8(28 reviews)

Sensing the History of Tottori at Koufuku-ji Temple

Located in Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, Koufuku-ji Temple is an ancient temple of the Soto sect founded during the Nanboku-cho period. Initially located in Hyogo Prefecture, it was moved to Himeji due to the deep faith of the Araki family, the lord of Himeji Castle. Subsequently, along with the Araki family, Koufuku-ji Temple underwent multiple relocations as its lord, the Ikeda family, was transferred between Okayama and Tottori clans, leading to its present location.

A Historic Compound

The compound of Koufuku-ji Temple houses the graveyards of successive Araki families and Tottori clan samurais. Among them, the grave of Gotou Matazaemon, a military strategist for the Toyotomi clan during the Siege of Osaka, is unique, said to contain his hair. This is a precious opportunity to behold the tomb of a prominent military leader from the Sengoku period.

Stone Tombstones from Pilgrimages

The tombstones within the compound are mainly handcrafted using natural large stones. They exhibit various shapes, evoking a sense of historical significance that sets them apart from those seen in Koyasan. While we refrained from taking photographs to protect privacy, we highly recommend experiencing their presence in person when visiting.

Access and Highlights

Koufuku-ji Temple is located about a 10-minute car ride from Tottori Station, with another prestigious temple, Gentoku-ji, in close proximity. Exploring both temples during a visit to Tottori provides an opportunity to touch upon historical heritage and ponder the lives of warriors, making it a memorable part of your journey.

Tourist attraction Place of worship Point of interest Establishment

Reviews

4(8 months ago)

ホタカ・東京

This is a Soto sect temple founded by Zen Master Tsugen Jakurei during the Nanbokucho period (1337 – 1392). It was first located in what is now Inagawa-cho, Kawabe-gun, Hyogo Prefecture, but during the Keicho period (1596-1615) Takashige Arao (the chief retainer of Terumasa Ikeda, the lord of Himeji Castle at the time) became a deep believer and moved the precincts to Himeji Castle, where it became the family temple of the Arao family. It was made. Afterwards, when the lord Ikeda family moved to the Okayama domain (transferred in 1996) and the Tottori domain (transferred in 1996), the Arao family and Keifukuji accompanied them, and it continues to this day. Therefore, there are four Keifukuji temples in Inagawa Town, Himeji City, Okayama City, and Tottori City, and they are called the Four Keifukuji Temples of the Soto Zen Sect. In the precincts of Keifuku-ji Temple, in addition to the tombstones of successive generations of the Arao family, there is also the grave of Goto Matabee, who fought on the Toyotomi side during the Osaka Siege. Goto Matabei was the lord of Okuma Castle with 16,000 koku of land, but he ran away and was welcomed by Toyotomi Hideyori as a tactician. Furthermore, he was such a great general that Tokugawa Ieyasu even invited him to switch sides.

4(4 years ago)

T T

Since Goto Matabei's son Tamekatsu served the Tottori clan, the graves of Matabei and his wife Tamekatsu are located in Keifukuji Temple, which serves as a family place. It is extremely rare for Matabei's hair to be buried. There are also graves of the Horio family, the chief retainers of the Tottori clan. This is a temple that I would like to visit together with the nearby Genchuji Temple.

4(4 years ago)

tatsuya

There is a grave of Goto Matabei, his wife and child. In addition, the graves of the Arao clan, the chief retainers of the Tottori clan, have large and small tombstones lined up in an orderly manner.

4(a year ago)

まさやん

It is a large temple where the graves of many of our ancestors, including Goto Matabee, remain.

5(6 years ago)

因幡国白兎

Goto Matabei's grave site has many large natural stone tombstones where you can feel the history. I also visited Mt. Koya and saw many tombstones of Sengoku warlords, and there were so many different tombstones that I was able to feel the history once again. I have refrained from posting photos of the tombstones as it may violate personal information.

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