Seiganto-ji Temple

Welcome to Seiganto-ji, the 'Temple of Crossing the Blue Shore,' a site of extraordinary spiritual resonance located in the rugged Key Mountains of Wakayama Prefecture. This Buddhist temple is uniquely significant as the first…

Our journey begins at the 'Daimon-zaka,' an ancient cobblestone staircase that serves as the final approach to the Nachi temple and shrine complex. Stretching for approximately 600 meters, this path is lined with massive,…

The 'Honden,' or Main Hall of Seiganto-ji, is a structure of immense historical and architectural value. Rebuilt in 1590 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi after the previous building was burned during Oda Nobunaga's campaigns, it stands as a…

As you transition from the Buddhist temple to the adjacent Shinto shrine grounds, you will encounter numerous symbols of a three-legged crow, known as 'Yatagarasu.' This legendary creature is a central figure in the mythology of…

The 'Sanjunoto,' or Three-Story Pagoda, is perhaps the most photographed building in Japan, serving as a brilliant orange foreground to the white cascade of Nachi Falls. Although the original pagoda burned down in 1581 and was…

Finally, we descend from the temple grounds to the base of Nachi Falls, known as 'Hiro-no-taki.' This is the spiritual heart of the entire region. The waterfall is 133 meters high and 13 meters wide, with a water volume that is…

As we conclude our exploration of Seiganto-ji and Nachi Falls, I hope you carry with you the sense of 'rebirth' that pilgrims have sought here for a millennium. We have walked the ancient stones of the Daimon-zaka, touched the…