🗺️ Nachi Mountain Seiganto-ji Temple那智山青岸渡寺

The Tendai temple located on Mount Nachi once thrived as a Shugen-do training ground that combined Shinto and Buddhism, boasting a history of 1600 years. It is not only the first of the 33 Kannon sacred sites in the Western region that many tourists visit, but it is also recognized by UNESCO as part of the World Cultural Heritage "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range." The main hall, known as the "Nyoirin-do," was burned down during the military campaigns of Oda Nobunaga and was later ordered to be rebuilt by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. It is now designated as an Important Cultural Property. The oldest tahōtō (pagoda) in Japan, built in 1322, is also listed as an Important Cultural Property. The three-story pagoda, which offers a view of the famous "Nachi Falls," has a long history and records of visits by Emperor Shirakawa and Emperor Toba. Although the current pagoda was rebuilt in 1972 (Showa 47), the stunning scenery of the waterfall cascading down and the vermilion pagoda remains unchanged through the ages. The pagoda is open for interior visits (tickets required), and the Buddha statues on each floor, as well as the view of the waterfall and the Pacific Ocean from the top floor, are definitely worth seeing.

The Tendai temple located on Mount Nachi once thrived as a Shugendo training ground. The three-story pagoda, set against the backdrop of Nachi Falls, is very popular. It is the first of the 33 Kannon sacred sites in the Western Japan pilgrimage. It is also listed as one of the components of the World Heritage Site "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range." The main training hall of Kumano Shugendo, "Nachi-san Gyōja-dō," has been rebuilt after 150 years, making it the largest in Japan.