Zao-do, Kinpusen-ji Temple【World Heritage】

Zao-do, Kinpusen-ji Temple【World Heritage】

Kinpusen-ji Temple is the pinnacle of Shugendo, a Shinto-Buddhist cult devoted to rigorous training, ascetic practices and mountain worship. The temple is said to have begun when its founder spent one thousand days in practice and received a vision or impression of Shugendo leader Zao Gongen, and after carving that image into the trunk of a cherry tree, the worship at this place began. The 34-meter tall Zao-do is one of the largest-scale wooden building next to Todai-ji Temple, and is now registered as a World Heritage. "Kinpusen" means a string of mountains that starts in Yoshino and they have been sacred mountains for ages. Its symbol is the Zao-do. The temple's main three statues, Kongo-zao-gongenzo, are not on display and are usually kept inside the shrine.

More Information

Tel

0746-32-8371

Open Hours

8:30 -16:30 (last admission 16:00)

Closed

Open daily

Web site
http://www.kinpusen.or.jp/