Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
THE 10 BEST Yoshino-cho Sights & Landmarks
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- amooafshinDubai, United Arab Emirates153 contributionsKinpusenji Temple, which is one of the most important Shugendo temples, is located on the same street. Shugendo is a religion based on mountain worship that combines the principles of Buddhism and Shinto. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its main hall (the 34-meter Zao-do Hall) is the second largest wooden structure in Japan after Todaiji Nara Temple. Inside the Zao-do Hall are three blue-skinned statues of Zao Gongen, the guardian deity of the sacred mountains of the Yoshino region. Zao Gungen is one of the most important Shugendu deities, who is the embodiment of the past, present and future Buddha. The three statues of this temple are 1300 years old and their size reaches seven meters, and each of them shows one of these three aspects. The entrance to this temple is 800 yen and it takes half an hour to visit it.Written 22 May 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- amooafshinDubai, United Arab Emirates153 contributionsAs soon as you enter the courtyard, a very beautiful view of the Yoshino valley is in front of you, which is full of white and pink flowers in Hanami season. But this shrine owes its greatest fame to the time when Emperor Go-Digo was sent to this area and thus in the history of Japan, as mentioned earlier, the Southern Court was formed and from this time (14th century) this temple It became an imperial palace. Yoshimizu Temple became a shrine during the separation of Buddhism and Shinto in the Meiji period. Now it houses various treasures including historical documents, weapons, paintings and other art objects in its main building. Its entrance fee is 600 yen and one hour is enough to visit it.Written 22 May 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- The Weak Knee TravelerSingapore, Singapore11,769 contributionsChanced upon this very traditional shrine while taking a stroll down the mountain from the top. Not crowded at all. Worth a visit.Written 14 April 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- The Weak Knee TravelerSingapore, Singapore11,769 contributionsThis is great viewpoint looking across to the lower part of the mountain where you can see buildings surrounded by sakura. There's also a mini tea house up here where you can have a cup of tea and enjoy the view.Written 14 April 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- ctunaGreen Valley, IL19 contributionsLovely place. No one else there on the morning I visited. Lovely walk down a broad path through maple trees. This place must be spectacular in autumn when the leaves turn.Written 28 July 2016This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- The Weak Knee TravelerSingapore, Singapore11,769 contributionsVisited this temple on the way down. Was attracted by the structure as it was circular at the top level. Lovelt building.Written 14 April 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Mama2010Indonesia484 contributionsYou can not miss this shrine as you walk down toward Yoshino station. Good picture with weeping sakura.Written 6 May 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- japanfan2016Fukuoka, Japan43 contributionsThis is one of the five temples under the protection of the Kimpusen-Temple (Kimpusen-ji) in Yoshino. They say it was founded in 673 during the reign of the legendary Tenmu Tennō. As many temples in Japan its portal is guarded by two muscular statues of Kongōrikishi, being manifestations of the Bodhisattva Vajrapāṇi. According to Japanese tradition, they travelled with Gautama Buddha to protect him.
After entering the temple precinct there are several buildings in front of you and at your left-hand side. In the court you will find a variety of statues and tiny shrines for Shintō deities such as Inari, Kompira, Benzaiten) as well as a place for Goma (Sanskrit Homa) fire ceremonies.
Before visiting the halls at the left you should go to the Grand Lecture Hall used for medidation and instructions. This hall is comparatively new but you'll have a breath taking view over the valley. There is also a very old statue of the mother of En-no-gyōja, the founder of Japanese mountain asceticism (Shugendō, Way of Ascetic Practice).
After leaving the Lecture Hall a kind of corridor leads to three old buildings, starting with the "Daishi Hall". It is dedicated to Kūkai (774–835), the founder of Shingon Buddhism, who is also known posthumously as Kōbō-Daishi (Grand master who propagated the teachings). Kūkai's statue was made during the 17th century.
The next hall, Ganesha Hall, is dedicated to the God of Bliss (Kangi-ten), which plays an important role in Shingon- and Tendai-Buddhism. Kangi-ten is generally considered the Japanese Buddhist form of the Hindu elephant-headed god of wisdom, Ganesha, sometimes also identified with the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara.
At the back of this hall there is a Treasure Hall (Hōjudō) with rare scrolls etc. that have survived the times and the destructions during the early Meiji Period (1868-1912). This hall is open to the public only in early April and mid-November.
In the Main Hall (Hondō) you will find a statue of the main deity En-no-Gyōja who is revered under his posthumous name Jimben Daibosatsu. It was carved during the Kamakura Period (1185–1333) and is registered as an Important Cultural Asset. Furthermore there are statues of Zaō Dai-gongen, Fudō Myōō (Sanskrit Acala, one of the Wisdom Kings), Akiba-Gongen (worshipped as a protector against fire), Shōbō Rigen Daishi (a disciple of Kūkai who was very influential in Yoshino), and others. The statue of Tenmu Tennō is shown only in mid-November.
This temple is one of the rare examples of the syncretism of Buddhist deities and Shintō-deities (kami). The latter are considered to be manifestations of Buddhas or Bodhisatvas (Sanskrit avatar, Japanese gongen). The mountain asceticism (Shugendō) of Yoshino was closely related especially to the esoteric schools of Shingo- and Tendai-Buddhism for hundreds of years. But shortly after the end of the Edo-Period (1868) the new government started to oppress Buddhism while establishing Shintō as the national religion of Japan. During those years many temples were destroyed, sculptures burned or sold (Western collectors managed to save quite a number of Buddhist statues). In Yoshino too, a considerable number of smaller temples disappeared. After the successful establishment of National Shintō (Kokka-Shintō), Buddhism was accepted again, but throughout the country the damage was done. Sakura Motobō is one of the nowadays rare places giving a good impression of the traditional mix-up of Buddhism and Shintō.Written 27 May 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - The Weak Knee TravelerSingapore, Singapore11,769 contributionsAs i took 2 buses up to near the top, this was the 1st shrine 1 saw in the mountain. It is not crowded but interesting to visit. There is a toilet stop near it as well.Written 14 April 2018This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- ChuzaaVancouver, Canada3,514 contributionsThe area with a Tower (The Myoho-den Pagoda) below the Zao-do Hall of the Kinpusen-ji Temple is said to be where the palace office complex was located in the 14th century when Emperor Godaigo and his three successors maintained their own imperial court (the Yoshino Court or the Southern Court, from 1336 to 1392) against the Imperial Court in Kyoto (the Northern Court).
This period in Japanese History is known as the Nanbokucho Period (or The Southern and Northern Courts Period, from 1336 to 1392).
All you can see here is a stone marker – no more than that.Written 2 September 2015This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Let's Go Lab JPOsaka, Japan9 contributionsKane no Torii at Kimpusen-Ji
Kimpusen-Ji is considered a World Heritage Site! Before you arrive at the Temple, you will find this amazing Torii (Gate) considered as an important cultural property.
It is considered to be the oldest existing copper Torii (Gate) in Japan!
Although the year of construction of this Gate is unknown, the original Gate was built using the copper that remained after casting of the Great Buddha at Todai-Ji!
The Gate measures 8.2m high, has 2 pillars, each measuring 1.1m in diameter and standing 7.4m apart! In the middle of the Gate is a tablet that reads "発心門”
「Hossin-mon」the Gate's name.
I think it's an amazing place to visit if you want to escape from the busy city life in Japan! If you have time I highly recommend you give it a try! You can find our Vlog about Kimpusen-Ji on our youtube channel--> @LETSGOLABJP Follow us so you don't miss any of the reviews we will be doing about Japan! What are you waiting for? Let's Go!
By GinaWritten 26 July 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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