Gansho-in Temple
岩松院
An old temple on the outskirts of Obuse. The ceiling of its main hall holds “Phoenix Gazing in Eight Directions,” a roughly 21-tatami-mat painting Hokusai made in his later years.
Gansho-in lies on the eastern edge of Obuse. The “Phoenix Gazing in Eight Directions” painting on the main hall ceiling was made by Katsushika Hokusai at age 88. It covers about 21 tatami mats, and its precious pigments remain vivid to this day. Legend says that the phoenix's eyes seem to be watching you from any angle. The temple also houses the memorial mausoleum of Sengoku-era warrior Fukushima Masanori, and a pond where the haiku poet Kobayashi Issa wrote, “Skinny frog, don't lose; Issa is here.” Admission is about 500 yen. It is about a 30-minute walk or 10-minute bicycle ride from the Obuse town centre, and it can be combined with the Hokusai Museum.
Opening hours
About 9:00 am–4:30 pm (earlier in winter)
Nearby sights
- Obuse & Hokusai-kan
- Nagano Prefectural Art Museum
- Zenkō-ji
- Lake Nojiri
- Kawanakajima Battlefield (Hachimanbara Park)
- Matsushiro Castle & Sanada Treasure Museum
- Matsushiro Underground Imperial Headquarters
- Nozawa Onsen