# Dainichibō Temple, Japan: what it is and when to go

> Dainichibō Temple is a building in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan (湯殿山総本寺 大日坊). Interests: Temples. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 41 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 19. It has an article in one Wikipedia, 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/dainichibo-temple/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Building in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan · Temples
- **Local name:** 湯殿山総本寺 大日坊
- **Where:** Japan
- **Best time:** February to May and October to November.
- **Nearest airport:** NRT Narita, 317 km as the crow flies
- **Coordinates:** 38.59255, 139.90033

## What it is and where

Dainichibō Temple is a building in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan (湯殿山総本寺 大日坊). It has an article in one Wikipedia, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

It is in [Tsuruoka](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/tsuruoka/), where this site lists 28 more places to see, 13 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 38.59255, 139.90033; the nearest main airport is Narita International Airport (NRT, Narita), 317 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=38.592551%2C139.900335)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=38.592551%2C139.900335)

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 Dainichibō Temple is **February to May and October to November**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 35 |
| February | Best time | 10 h 33 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 42 |
| April | Best time | 13 h 01 |
| May | Best time | 14 h 06 |
| June | Possible | 14 h 41 |
| July | Possible | 14 h 27 |
| August | Possible | 13 h 30 |
| September | Possible | 12 h 14 |
| October | Best time | 10 h 58 |
| November | Best time | 9 h 51 |
| December | Possible | 9 h 19 |

In June there are 14 h 41 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 19. 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 Yudono](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mount-yudono/): Mountain in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan · 10 km
- [Mount Yunosawa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-yunosawa/): Mountain in Tsuruoka, Yamagata prefecture, Japan · 11 km
- [Mount Gassan Ski Resort](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mount-gassan-ski-resort/): Ski field in Japan · 12 km
- [Mount Gassan](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-gassan/): Mountain in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan · 12 km
- [Kinbō Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kinpo-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan · 13 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 Dainichibō Temple?

It is a building in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan (湯殿山総本寺 大日坊 in the local language). It has an article in one Wikipedia, 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 Dainichibō Temple?

February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 41 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 19.

### How do you get to Dainichibō Temple?

The nearest main airport is Narita International Airport (NRT), 317 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=38.592551%2C139.900335) 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 Yudono](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mount-yudono/), [Mount Yunosawa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-yunosawa/), [Mount Gassan Ski Resort](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mount-gassan-ski-resort/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1071069425), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11435616), CC0. More about Dainichibō Temple on [Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E6%97%A5%E5%9D%8A). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).

