Hōdōji

Hōdōji is a Buddhist temple in Sakai featuring a dining hall from the 12th century and a Tahoto tower that spans multiple levels. The tower blends Japanese and Chinese architectural elements, showing influences from both design traditions.

Emperor Tenji, Japan's 38th emperor, ordered the temple's establishment after learning about the Indian sage Hodo who performed Buddhist rituals at this location. This origin connects the site to both Japanese and Indian spiritual traditions.

The dining hall and Tahoto tower carry the status of Important Cultural Properties that reflect the temple's spiritual importance. The kongo rikishi warrior statue, designated as a Cultural Property of Sakai, represents the protective deities that guard Buddhist spaces.

The site is accessible by Nankai Bus from Izumigaoka Station on the Semboku Rapid Railway, heading toward the Hachigamine bus stop. The bus ride takes you through local neighborhoods to reach the temple.

The temple's woodwork holds the earliest known engravings of killer whales in Japanese architecture. These carvings reveal how people in earlier times documented observations of marine life through artistic details.