Mt. Mitoku

Along the road to visit Mt. Mitoku from Misasa Hot Springs, this large torii used to indicate Mt. Mitoku's territory.

Temple lodgings also available to the public. You can also eat a vegetarian meal (reservation only), or participate in zazen meditation and sutra copying.

Stone steps worn down from hundreds of years of pilgrimages.

Prefectural Preservation of Cultural Property

One of the three principle objects of worship of Hon-do Hall of Sanbutsuji Temple (Shaka Nyorai, Amida Nyorai and Dainichi Nyorai), this statue was enshrined in the hall as a hidden buddha and repaired in 2004.

With a height of 147.5 cm, this statue has a slightly large head, a shallow body with extremely sloping shoulders, and shallow edges, which is typical of the style from the late Heian Period. It is believed to have been made slightly later than the main object of worship of Sanbutsu-ji Temple, Zao Gongen, in the late Heian Period (12th Century).

Its cultural and historical value is extremely high as one of the main objects of mountain worship at Hon-do Hall of Sanbutsuji Temple.

Yadoiribashi Bridge serves as the entrance to the ascetic path.

The Kazura Slope is the first obstacle on the "ascetic trail" that leads to the National Treasure Nageiredo. You must utilize your entire body and rely on tree roots to climb up. A training path.

Nationally Important Cultural Property

Monju-do is one of the halls located along the ascetic trail from Hon-do Hall of Sanbutsuji Temple to Nageiredo Hall. It is built on a cliff, the same way as Jizo-do Hall. Monju Bosatsu (Bodhisattva) is enshrined at this place and was also referred to as “Katsuté Gongen”. Having no handrails, the building is surrounded with greenery. One can freely walk all around the structure.

According to temple legend, the hall was founded in 849. However, judging from the writings found inside the current building, it is presumed that it was built in around 1567. The 1580 inscriptions in the interior metal fittings of the door and baluster finial reveal that the hall was protected by local influential people during the Azuchi-Momoyama Period. In the same way as Nageiredo and Jizo-do, this hall protrudes from a steep cliff and was built in the style of “kakezukuri” architecture.

Town Designated Tangible Cultural Property

Also known as "Katsute Daimyoujin". In 1541, an equestrian statue with a black horse was made and enshrined in Monju-do. This statue is not only the oldest signed piece (including statues and paintings) of Katsute Myoujin, but is also the second oldest equestrian statue after the one of Komori Gongen in Armor in Jizo-do.

Town Designated Tangible Cultural Property

Ksitigarbha is the true form of Komori Gongen, which points to Jizo-do at Mt. Mitoku. This equestrian statue of the armored Ksitigarbha on a white horse was enshrined in Jizo-do Hall in 1523 by a Buddhist craftsman from Kyoto. This is the oldest signed piece of Buddhist figures and paintings collected by war commanders who fought for the power to rule. It is also the oldest signed wooden equestrian statue with a white horse.

An obstacle along the ascetic trail. Past Shoro-do Hall is a slender ridge you must walk on. This ridge resembles a horseback and cattleback, hence the name.

Prefectural Preservation of Cultural Property

This is one of the halls located along the ascetic trail from Sanbutsu-ji Temple’s Hon-do Hall to Nageiredo Hall.

It was built on the trail and it is found right before Nageiredo. As people need to pass through a narrow pathway between the rock and the hall in order to reach Nageiredo, pilgrims call this place “tainai kuguri” (passing through the womb).

The cave is symbolically seen as a womb where one can attain a new life by entering and coming out of that womb.

“Standing Statue of Sho Kannon” is the principal object of worship.

Prefectural Preservation of Cultural Property

This is one of the halls located along the ascetic trail from Sanbutsu-ji Temple’s Hon-do Hall to Nageiredo Hall. It was built in a cave, the same way as Kannon-do Hall. The architectural style suggests it was constructed in early Edo Period.

Since “Motoyui” means to harden the “string” with glue in order to tie the hair, the name implies that the hair of Sanbutsu-ji’s priest was shaved off, tied by a string and stored in this structure. “Siddhārtha” is the principal object of worship.

Not only is Nageiredo Hall designated a national heritage but it is a leading architectural wooden masterpiece in Japan. It previously housed 7 wooden standing statues of Zao Gongen (Buddha Zao) which are Nationally Important Cultural Properties.

It is said that in 706, Enno Gyoja arrived at this mountain on a white cloud, formed a sacred crevice and threw (nagé iré) the hall into the cliff using his magical powers; hence the name “Nageiredo”.

This hall is a symbol of Buddhist mountain worship. The challenging sheer height of the cliff, the harmonious raised floor type (kakezukuri) structures in the crevice and the defying construction method of the stilts make it an exceptional architecture like no other.

Japanese ancient Shinto philosophies are deeply rooted here as the structures are said to represent “coexistence with nature”, giving a lasting impression on visitors. Officially, the closer structure is called “Zao Shrine” and the farther structure is called “Aizen-do Hall”. Looking at the architectural style and growth ring dating, it is clear that these are late Heian Period structures. They are a national treasure as late Heian Period wood is used to this day.

* Shugendo is mountain worship in Japan.

Six Zao Gongen statues are enshrined together with the central figure at Nageiredo Hall. All are Important Cultural Properties and are made from one piece of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood. A recent scientific investigation concluded that the timber of one of the statues was felled in 1025, making it the oldest Zao Gongen statue. Since it is likely that the statue was made when Nageiredo Hall was founded, it indicates the time of the hall's establishment.

The virgin forest at Mt. Mitoku has been preserved by religious belief.

This large rock is on the south side of Mt. Mitoku and it is called Kanmuri Iwa (Crown Rock). It is named after the crown of Zao Gongen, Nageiredo Hall's principal object of worship. It was an important place to visit for Shugendo practitioners as a god was believed to reside there. Remains of rituals performed nearby are still visible to this day.