Kosanji Temple and the Hill of Hope
耕三寺・未来心の丘34°18′ N 133°05′ ETemple garden¥1,800, about CAD 16 or USD 11 (October 2026 rates)
Kosanji suits anyone riding through Setoda who wants an hour among bright temple halls and white marble, and the trade-off is an adult ticket of ¥1,800.
Photo Fabimaru · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Access
Paths marked on the museum's guide map take wheelchairs. The temple interiors, the Thousand Buddha Cave and Path to Hell, the Choseikaku villa and the Kongo gallery have no wheelchair access.
Kozo Kosanji was an Osaka industrialist who pioneered French-style welding, and in 1936 he founded this Jodo Shinshu temple in Setoda as a family temple in memory of his mother. He spent more than 30 years building it and entered the priesthood himself. The halls and gates recreate famous Buddhist buildings from around Japan in strong colour. The whole precinct is a registered museum holding Important Cultural Properties.
The Hill of Hope rises behind the temple. Sculptor Itto Kuetani spent 16 years on it, and it opened in October 2000 with 5,000 square metres of white marble from Carrara, about 3,000 tonnes shipped from near his studio in Italy. Kuetani wanted people to walk over it and touch it, so you can. From the Tower of Hope at the top you look out across Setoda and the islands.
The grounds open 9:00 to 17:00 every day. Adults pay ¥1,800, students ¥1,200, and children of junior high age and younger go in free, and the Choseikaku villa costs ¥500 more. Kozo Kosanji built that villa in 1927 as a retreat for his mother, and its sliding doors carry paintings by leading modern Japanese artists.
Worth knowing
- Kosanji's own price list shows ¥1,800 for adults, while older guides and the Visit Shimanami page still give ¥1,400.
- Adults who come with a child of junior high age or younger pay the group rate.
- Cards and electronic money work at the ticket desk, the shop and Café Cuore.
Quick answers about Kosanji Temple and the Hill of Hopeよくある質問
How much does Kosanji cost?
Kosanji costs ¥1,800 for adults and ¥1,200 for high school and university students in 2026, and children of junior high age and younger enter free. The ticket includes the Hill of Hope.
What is the Hill of Hope at Kosanji?
The Hill of Hope (Miraishin no Oka) is a 5,000-square-metre garden of white Carrara marble behind Kosanji in Setoda. Sculptor Itto Kuetani made it over 16 years, and it opened in October 2000.
What are the opening hours of Kosanji Temple and the Hill of Hope?
Kosanji Temple and the Hill of Hope keeps these hours: Mon–Sun 09:00–17:00.
When is the best time to visit Kosanji Temple and the Hill of Hope?
Kosanji Temple and the Hill of Hope: Spring, when cherry blossom frames the Koyomon gate.
Can you get to Kosanji Temple and the Hill of Hope by bike?
The Setoda tourist information rental terminal lists the Kosanji bus stop as its nearest stop, so you can swap or return a Shimanami Japan bike close by.
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