[2025 Yoshino Attraction] Travel Guide for Zaō-dō Hall, Kinpusen-ji Temple Hon-dō (Main Hall) (Updated May)

I went to Mount Yoshino in Nara Prefecture, about 80 minutes by express train or 90 minutes by rapid train from Osaka Abenobashi Station. Yoshino is famous for the World Heritage sites of Kinpusen-ji Temple and Yoshimizu Shrine. It is also famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot in spring. However, both places are a little far from the station. There is Japan's oldest ropeway, which you can take to the top, but there is also a mountain trail, so if you are physically fit, you can walk there. There are several restaurants along the way to fill your stomach. You will definitely pass Kashihara Shrine on the train journey from Osaka, so it might be worth stopping by there on your way back. #Spring0yentrip

Kinpusenji Temple is a component part of the World Heritage Site "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range," and its Zaodo (main hall) and Niomon Gate are designated national treasures. It is the place where En no Gyoja, the founder of Shugendo, performed his 1,000-day ascetic practice in the 7th century, and the current Zaodo Hall was rebuilt in 1592 with the assistance of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and is the second largest ancient wooden building after the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple. The principal image of Zaodo Hall is the three Zao Gongen statues (Thousand-Armed Kannon, Shaka Nyorai, and Maitreya Bodhisattva), which are Japan's largest secret Buddha statues at 7m tall and are not usually open to the public. Zao Gongen's body and face are blue, and the depiction of its powerful body and angry expression is simply intimidating, but when you visit, a private room about 80cm wide is prepared for each person, and if you open your mind and worship carefully, rather than being frightening, it seems like a guardian deity that protects you from evil. Currently, it will be open to the public until December 1, 2024, but it has been open to the public about once a year so why not visit during one of the openings? In addition, the Niomon Gate was rebuilt in 1338, but is under repair until 2028, and the Kongorikishi statues (Agata 1339, Ungyo 1340) can be viewed at the Nara National Museum. Made by the great sculptor Kosei, it is just as impressive as the Kongorikishi statues at Todaiji Temple (made by Unkei and Kaikei in 1203). Because it is inside the museum, you can view it directly without any unnecessary obstructions, so this is also recommended. It's located inside Nara Park, so it's in a great location. ●Kinpusenji Temple Opening hours: 8:30am - 4pm Admission fee: 800 yen (1600 yen when open to the public) Location: 2498 Yoshinoyama, Yoshino-cho, Yoshino-gun, Nara Prefecture Access: Take the ropeway from Kintetsu Yoshino to Yoshinoyama Station. 10 minutes walk from the station Car: 15 minutes walk from Shimosenbon Parking Lot (parking fee 1000 yen) *It seems that there is a lot of traffic during the cherry blossom season, I think it is better to avoid driving *The secret Buddha will be open to the public until December 1, 2024 (It has been open to the public several times in the past) ●Nara National Museum Opening hours: 9:30-17:00 (Saturday-20:00) (Sometimes open to 20:00 on Fridays) Closed: Mondays Address: 50 Noborioji-cho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture (Inside Nara Park) Fee: 700 yen (varies during special exhibitions) #0 yen travel autumn #World Heritage Site #Nara #Nara sightseeing #National treasure #Yoshinoyama #Kinpusenji Temple #Blue Buddha #Temples and shrines #Secret Buddha #Open to the public #En no Gyozuno #Shugendo #En no Gyoja #Niomon #Kongo Rikishi statue #Important Cultural Property #Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range #Sacred Sites #Yoshino Town #Nara National Museum

#FuriTabi Kinpusenji Temple is the symbol of Mount Yoshino and the head temple of Shugendo. Zao Hall is a large wooden building, second only to the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple, with five bays on the front and six on the side, a height of about 34m, and a cypress bark roof. It houses three Zao Gongen statues (Important Cultural Property), the principal image of which is 7m tall. ★National Treasure Niomon Gate Heisei Major Repair Promotion/Special Public Viewing of the Hidden Buddha of Zao Hall★ To promote the repairs, a special public viewing of the secret Buddha of Zao Hall will be held. During the public viewing period, a nighttime viewing of "Shomyo and Zao Gongen Floating in the Darkness" will be held, which is limited to guests staying overnight.