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Daiitokuji Temple, a mountain temple located on Mt. Ushitaki known as one of the best spots for autumn foliage in Kansai
Kishiwada City
Daiitokuji Temple, known as one of the best spots for autumn foliage in Kansai, is said to have been founded by En no Gyoja and has been revered as a sacred place for Katsuragi Shugendo since ancient times. The Taho-to Pagoda (Muromachi period) within the precinct is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
Katsuragi Shugendo is the birthplace of Shugendo (Japanese mountain asceticism-shamanism incorporating Shinto and Buddhist concepts).
The first training place for En no Gyoja, who is said to be the founder of Shugendo, was the peaks of Katsuragi. The mountain range, which extends 112 kilometers from Tomogashima in Wakayama Prefecture to Oji-cho in Nara Prefecture, has been called Mt. Katsuragi since ancient times, and the 28 sutra mounds, waterfalls, megaliths, shrines, and hokora (a small shrine) where Hokke-kyo Sutra is stored are collectively called Katsuragi Shugen. Daiitokuji Temple has the 10th sutra mound of Katsuragi Shugen, which was designated as a Japanese heritage site in 2020.
How to get there
From Kansai International Airport, take the Nankai Main Line to Kishiwada Station (about 20 minutes), take the Nankai Wing Bus bound for Ushitakiyama and get off at Ushitakiyama (about 50 minutes).
1178-1 Osawa-cho, Kishiwada-shi, Osaka-fu
