南岳寺

Nangakuji Temple sits on Tsuruoka's eastern side and combines wooden Japanese architecture with several halls containing Buddha figures and religious artwork. Visitors can find various altars and shrines inside that show the traditional layout of a larger temple.

The temple's origins reach back several centuries, with its structure shaped by fire and rebuilding over time. A notable priest named Tetsuryukai connected multiple temples in the late 1800s and left his influence on the site's development.

The statues and shrines inside show how this place became important for pilgrims and believers over the centuries. The way people practice devotion here appears in the preserved artwork and the quiet arrangement of the rooms.

The easiest way to reach the site is by bus from Tsuruoka Station, taking about 10 minutes before a short walk follows. Access is well marked and the site is open to visitors on most days.

The temple houses one of Japan's most recent mummified monks who self-preserved through fasting and meditation. This rare practice offers a glimpse into ancient Buddhist devotional techniques that survive in few other places.