Sekiganji, Tamba

Sekiganji is a Buddhist temple in Tamba with an arched stone bridge called Taiko Bashi crossing over the Shinji-ike pond. The pond holds hundreds of colorful Nishiki Koi fish and is surrounded by traditional temple buildings set on hillside slopes.

The temple was founded in 705 during the Nara period, making it one of the region's oldest religious sites. Its main hall, gate, and bell tower were rebuilt between 1774 and 1783 to preserve the structure for future generations.

This temple belongs to the Tendai school of Buddhism, and its layout reflects the spiritual values of this tradition. Visitors sense this religious identity in how the buildings and gardens are arranged around the sacred space.

Visitors can reach the temple by taking the Kameoka Furusato bus from Kameoka Station to the Kokubun stop, followed by a short walk to the entrance. The location requires some planning to reach, but the quiet setting makes it worthwhile for a peaceful day.

The temple grounds display seasonal flowers like wisteria, water lilies, and lotus blooms at different times of year. Visitors arriving at the right season experience these changing colors and shapes that give the place a different character.