- What kind of temple is “Sanbutsuji Temple”? History of the temple
- The national treasure of Sanbutsuji Temple is the most dangerous in Japan! Deutai-do” built on a rock wall
- Access to Sanbutsuji Temple
- Parking around Sanbutsuji Temple
- Sanbutsuji Temple Official Website
- Recommended around Sanbutsuji Temple
What kind of temple is “Sanbutsuji Temple”? History of the temple
Sanbutsuji temple is a Tendai Sect temple located in Misasa-cho, Tohaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture.
According to “Hoki-min-genki (written in 1742),” the temple was founded in 706 when Enno Ozunu, the founder of Shugendo, enshrined Sansho Gongen.
Sansho Gongen: Kosamori Gongen, Katte Gongen, and Zao Gongen.
In 849, Jikaku Daishi Ennin (the third head of Tendai) enshrined the temple’s principal deities, Shakyamuni Buddha, Amida Buddha, and Dainichi Buddha, and named the temple “Jodoin Mitokuzan Sanbutsuji,” which became a Tendai sect temple.
Later, temples were built one after another, and it is said that at its peak there were 39 temples and 49 halls, but many of them were destroyed by fire due to repeated wars and other factors.
Among the structures that can still be seen today are the “Nokyo-do” and “Nokyo-do” (including restorations and reconstructions), which were built in the Heian period (794-1185).
The temple was revered by Minamoto no Yoritomo and Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in the Middle Ages, and was protected by the Ikeda clan, the feudal lord of the Tottori domain, in the Edo period (1603-1868), and its domain was maintained until the end of the Edo period.
The national treasure of Sanbutsuji Temple is the most dangerous in Japan! Deutai-do” built on a rock wall
Nageire-do,” designated as a national treasure, can be seen at this temple.
It is not known why it was built on the rock face, but according to temple legend, when Yaku Shokaku visited Mitokuyama, he built a hall and made it large enough to be held in his hand by the power of the Dharma, and threw it into a cave in the rocks (origin of “Nageire-do”). The path to the “throwing-in hall” is a climb up a mountain (some parts of it are up a cliff), so you need to be prepared for the climb.
It also takes about two hours to go up and back down the mountain, so it is advisable to allow plenty of time for your visit.
If you are not able to climb the mountain, such as if you have a bad leg, you can use the free telescope located at the “Debitai-do Haruhaisho” (located along Prefectural Route 21) to view the Debitai-do.
You can go up to the main hall of the temple as usual, but there is a simple personal appearance inspection to enter the hall, so please check the website (be sure to check before you come).
Access to Sanbutsuji Temple
1010 Santoku, Misasa-cho, Tohaku-gun, Tottori 682-0132
Parking around Sanbutsuji Temple
Sanbutsuji Temple Official Website
Official site：https://www.mitokusan.jp/