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Japan

Kimpusen-ji

Buddhist temple House of prayer National Treasure of Japan Part of UNESCO World Heritage Site Place of worship

Kimpusen-ji, Buddhist temple in Yoshino, Japan

Description

Kimpusen-ji is a Buddhist temple in Yoshino that includes the Zaō Hall, the second largest wooden structure in Japan, dedicated to the deity Zaō gongen. The grounds extend across the forested slope of Mount Yoshino, connecting multiple buildings through staircases and paved pathways.

History

En no Gyōja founded the site in the 7th century as a center for mountain asceticism, establishing the foundation for Shugendō development. The Zaō Hall has been rebuilt multiple times, most recently after a late 16th-century fire under the Toyotomi shogunate.

Culture

The complex serves as headquarters for the Kinpusen-Shugendō tradition, which merges Buddhist teachings with the veneration of sacred mountains. Pilgrims and visitors experience this synthesis through rituals and ceremonies that still take place inside the hall today.

Practical

Access follows pilgrimage routes through the Kii Mountain Range, with steep ascents requiring sturdy footwear. Guided tours run throughout the year and help visitors understand the religious significance of the site.

Did you know?

The interior of the Zaō Hall contains three colossal statues of Zaō gongen, each standing over 23 feet (7 meters) tall, normally kept veiled. These figures are revealed to the public only during rare ceremonial occasions, adding to their mystique.

Location

Yoshino

Inception

7 century

Founders

En no Gyōja

Fee

Yes

Part of

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, En no Gyōja Reiseki Fudasho, Shinbutsu Reijō Junpai no Michi

Address

2498, Ōaza Yoshinoya, Yoshino-chō, Nara-ken 639-3115

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday 08:30-16:00

Phone

+81746328371

Website

http://kinpusen.or.jp/english

GPS coordinates

34.36838,135.85814

Latest update

December 13, 2025 17:48

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