# Joko-ji Temple, Japan: what it is and when to go > Joko-ji Temple is a Buddhist temple of the Kōyasan Shingon-shū sect dedicated to Vairocana in Shiojiri, Japan (常光寺) (Nagano). Interests: Temples. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 26 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 33. 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/jokoji/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Buddhist temple of the Kōyasan Shingon-shū sect dedicated to Vairocana in Shiojiri, Japan · Temples - **Local name:** 常光寺 - **Where:** Japan - **Best time:** February to May and October to November. - **Nearest airport:** HND Tokyo, 174 km as the crow flies - **Coordinates:** 36.09126, 137.97674 ## What it is and where Joko-ji Temple is a Buddhist temple of the Kōyasan Shingon-shū sect dedicated to Vairocana in Shiojiri, Japan (常光寺) (Nagano). 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 [Nagano](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/nagano-2/), where this site lists 6 more places to see, 14 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 36.09126, 137.97674; the nearest main airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND, Tokyo), 174 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=36.091256%2C137.976744) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=36.091256%2C137.976744) 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 Joko-ji Temple is **February to May and October to November**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 48 | | February | Best time | 10 h 41 | | March | Best time | 11 h 44 | | April | Best time | 12 h 56 | | May | Best time | 13 h 55 | | June | Possible | 14 h 26 | | July | Possible | 14 h 14 | | August | Possible | 13 h 22 | | September | Possible | 12 h 13 | | October | Best time | 11 h 03 | | November | Best time | 10 h 03 | | December | Possible | 9 h 33 | In June there are 14 h 26 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 33. 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 - [Eifuku-ji Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/eifukuji/): Buddhist temple of the Kōyasan Shingon-shū sect dedicated to Hayagriva in Shiojirimachi, Japan · 1.3 km - [Shōrin-ji Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/shorinji/): Temples · 3.6 km - [Mount Takabotchi](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-takabocchi/): Nature · Mountains · 7.3 km - [Harmo Museum](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/harmo-museum/): Museum of naive art on Lake Suwa, in Nagano, Japan · 10 km - [Autobahn Hot Spring Lake suwa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/autobahn-hot-spring-lake-suwa/): Hot spring bath · 11 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 Joko-ji Temple? It is a Buddhist temple of the Kōyasan Shingon-shū sect dedicated to Vairocana in Shiojiri, Japan (常光寺 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 Joko-ji Temple? February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 26 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 33. ### How do you get to Joko-ji Temple? The nearest main airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND), 174 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=36.091256%2C137.976744) 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 [Eifuku-ji Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/eifukuji/), [Shōrin-ji Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/shorinji/), [Mount Takabotchi](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/mt-takabocchi/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/12410484951), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113986842), CC0. More about Joko-ji Temple on [Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B8%B8%E5%85%89%E5%AF%BA_(%E5%A1%A9%E5%B0%BB%E5%B8%82%E4%B8%8A%E8%A5%BF%E6%9D%A1)). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).