盛巌寺

Seiganji is a Buddhist temple situated on a small mountain in Ena, featuring buildings with steeply pitched roofs arranged across the elevated grounds. Inside, it houses numerous Buddhist statues and religious artifacts displayed throughout different halls and chambers.

Founded in 1576, this temple gained prominence during the Edo period when it received protection from the shogunate. This support elevated it to become a major center for worshipping Kannon, a central figure in Japanese Buddhism.

This place serves as a spiritual center where local residents gather for religious ceremonies and worship throughout the year. The presence of the statues and ritual space shapes how people connect with their beliefs and traditions.

Reaching the temple grounds requires climbing a series of steps built into the mountainside, which demands some physical effort but provides access to the elevated site. From the top, visitors can see the river valley and surrounding mountains that frame the location.

According to local tradition, fishermen discovered an Avalokiteshvara statue in the river in 628, which inspired the construction of the first religious structure on this mountain. This founding legend remains central to understanding how the site became established.