Junenji Temple is one of the most historic Buddhist temples in the Joetsu area. Its origins can be traced back to the eighth century, and its ties with Zenkoji Temple, one of the most important Buddhist institutions in the country in what is now the city of Nagano, are said to date to the tenth century.

Between 1553 and 1564, the Joetsu-born warlord Uesugi Kenshin (1530–1578) fought the Battles of Kawanakajima against his greatest rival, Takeda Shingen (1521–1573), the lord of Kai Province, near Zenkoji. Kenshin had many of the ancient temple’s precious artifacts sent to Junenji Temple in his home region for safekeeping. The coastal Junenji thus became known as “Zenkoji of the Shore.”

The temple’s main hall was destroyed by fire in 1938, and it was eventually rebuilt in its current location in 1991. When the area around the temple cemetery was being improved, several artifacts, including a Kamakura-period (1185–1333) gorinto, a five-tiered Buddhist memorial, were examined and properly cataloged. As a result, the temple was confirmed to be one of the oldest in the area. The gorinto has since been designated a cultural property of the city of Joetsu.

The ceiling and walls of the new main hall are decorated with artworks painted by local residents. Underneath the building is a kaidan meguri, a pitch-black corridor that is similar to the one located under the main hall of Zenkoji Temple. The corridor passes beneath the principal object of worship at the temple. Directly below the statue is a knob that represents a key. Touching it is said to deepen one’s connection with the Buddha.