# Chūzen-ji, Japan: what it is and when to go > Chūzen-ji is a building in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan (中禅寺) (Utsunomiya). Interests: Temples. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 30 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 30. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/chuzen-temple/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Building in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan · Temples - **Local name:** 中禅寺 - **Where:** Japan · 日光市, 栃木県 - **Best time:** February to May and October to November. - **Nearest airport:** NRT Narita, 134 km as the crow flies - **Opening hours:** Mo-Su 08:00-17:00 - **Website:** [rinnoji.or.jp](https://www.rinnoji.or.jp/temple/chuzenji/) - **Coordinates:** 36.73113, 139.49181 ## What it is and where Chūzen-ji is a building in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan (中禅寺) (Utsunomiya). It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. It is in [Utsunomiya](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/utsunomiya/), where this site lists 91 more places to see, 39 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 36.73113, 139.49181; the nearest main airport is Narita International Airport (NRT, Narita), 134 km as the crow flies. How to get around Japan (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=36.731126%2C139.491813) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=36.731126%2C139.491813) It is one of the [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/espiritual/) places in Japan. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Chūzen-ji is **February to May and October to November**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 45 | | February | Best time | 10 h 39 | | March | Best time | 11 h 43 | | April | Best time | 12 h 57 | | May | Best time | 13 h 58 | | June | Possible | 14 h 30 | | July | Possible | 14 h 17 | | August | Possible | 13 h 24 | | September | Possible | 12 h 13 | | October | Best time | 11 h 02 | | November | Best time | 10 h | | December | Possible | 9 h 30 | In June there are 14 h 30 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 30. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Japan in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Japan To enter Japan there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “A valid passport covering your whole stay”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Japan checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Japanese yen (JPY); plugs: Type A and B · 100 V · 50/60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 119 ambulance and fire. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Mount Hangetsu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hangetsu-san/): Mountain in Tochigi, Japan · 2.7 km - [Mount Nantai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mount-nantai/): Mountain in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan · 3.8 km - [Mount Sha](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-sha/): Nature · Mountains · 4.4 km - [Omanago Group](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-omanago/): Summit · 7.3 km - [Yashio-No-yu Hot Spring](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/yashio-no-yu-hot-spring/): Hot spring bath · 7.5 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). ## More in Japan: Temples - [Kiyomizu-dera](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kiyomizu-dera/): Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto - [Kinkaku-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kinkaku-ji/): Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan - [Hōryū-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/horyu-ji/): Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan - [Ise Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/ise-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Mie Prefecture, Japan - [Kōtoku-in](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kotoku-in/): Buddhist temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan - [Byōdō-in](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/byodo-in/): Buddhist temple in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan Every Japan place under Temples, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/espiritual/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Chūzen-ji? It is a building in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan (中禅寺 in the local language). It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. ### When is the best time to visit Chūzen-ji? February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 30 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 30. ### How do you get to Chūzen-ji? The nearest main airport is Narita International Airport (NRT), 134 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=36.731126%2C139.491813) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Japan is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Japan map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Mount Hangetsu](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/hangetsu-san/), [Mount Nantai](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mount-nantai/), [Mount Sha](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-sha/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/418292724), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11366837), CC0. More about Chūzen-ji on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%ABzen-ji). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).