Chogakuji Temple, located in Yanagimoto in Tenri City, stands along the Yamanobe Road, a historic route running at the eastern edge of the Nara Basin. The temple is traditionally said to have been founded in 824 by Kūkai under an imperial order of Emperor Junna, and it belongs to the Shingon Buddhist tradition.

Although the temple lost many buildings in a fire in 1503, parts of the precinct still preserve its long history. The former Jizo-in Main Hall and kitchen are designated Important Cultural Properties, and the temple’s Kamakura-period gate and Gochidō Hall have also been recognized as important historic structures. The present Main Hall was completed in 1783, and several Buddhist statues inside are designated Important Cultural Properties as well.

Today, Chogakuji is also known for its seasonal setting, especially the autumn leaves seen around the temple grounds. For visitors walking the Yamanobe Road, it offers a quiet place where architecture, religious history, and landscape meet.