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Tenrikyo Church Headquarters
19th Century
The main church of the religion that gave our city its character.
The Foundress of Tenrikyo, Nakayama Miki, was born Sanmaiden Village (now Sanmaiden Town, Tenri City), and founded the Tenrikyo religion in 1838. Gradually, more and more people from the area joined the religion, followed by even more people across Japan and around the world. When six towns and villages merged in 1954, “Tenri City” was born, crowned as the first city in Japan named after a religion, since this was the location of Tenrikyo Church Headquarters. Today, we see many buildings around the city related to Tenrikyo, and Tenrikyo Church Headquarters is overwhelming in size and the most recognizable.
Built in 1888, Tenrikyo Church Headquarters is also called “Jiba”, and believers from all around the world come home to pray here.
The sacred inner sanctuary is surrounded by worship halls on four sides, and wide cloisters lead us around these halls and other parts of the church. The church is open 24 hours a day, so followers can pray anytime. Non-followers may also visit the church, walk around the cloisters, and experience this beautiful, sacred space firsthand.
Access
By car: Tenrikyo Church Headquarters is about 2 km south of the Tenri IC on the Nishi-Meihan Expressway, and 2 km south of the Tenri Higashi IC on the Meihan Expressway.
By train: Tenrikyo Church Headquarters is about 1 km east of JR Tenri Station on the Manyo Mahoroba Line and Kintetsu Tenri Station on the Tenri Line.
By bus: Tenrikyo Church Headquarters is less than 1 km east of the Ikoinoie-byoin bus stop on the Nara Kotsu bus line.
Environment
Tenrikyo Church Headquarters is surrounded by vast gravel, with many buildings and schools related to the religion located nearby. There are a variety of cherry blossom trees near the church as well, especially on the eastern side. The weeping cherry blossoms are particularly large and beautiful, and attract many visitors every year.
Constructed a short distance north, south, east, and west from the church are a style of building called Oyasato Yakata. Tall and concrete, with black tiled roofs and red lattice, these buildings are home to Tenri University, the Tenri Sankokan Museum, lodgings for followers, and a variety of other groups related to Tenrikyo. The Oyasato Yakata buildings are some of the special architecture that gives Tenri City its character.
Point
Every year, the cherry blossoms around Tenrikyo Church Headquarters are some of the most beautiful in the city! Bright pink or snow white, from small and delicate or huge and dropping, beautiful flowers bloom throughout the entire season. For cherry blossom lovers, this is a must visit place.
Map
Information
| Course： |
Yamanobe-no-Michi (South) Course
Tenri Station Area Course |
|---|---|
| Address： | 1-1 Mishima Town, Tenri City, Nara Prefecture |
| Admission： | Free |
| Parking： | Yes |
| Rest Area： | Yes |
| Toilet： | Yes |
| Contact： | |
| Website： | Tenrikyo Homepage |
| Social Media： |
Photo Gallery
