A powerful temple with a dramatic history

Daisenji Temple stands at the trailhead of a popular hiking trail that leads up Mount Daisen. Several temple buildings are scattered along the mountainside. Wander among the temple grounds and feel the weight of more than one thousand years of history. Daisenji Temple was founded in the 7th century and was a major center of power and influence until the 14th century. During its prime, it had over one hundred smaller associated temples in the Daisen area and was guarded by 3,000 armed priests. It was an important training center for monks who practiced mountain asceticism, a practice of living in the wild and abstaining from modern comforts.

Although the temple was destroyed by fire in 1928, it was later rebuilt according to traditional construction methods. The temple appears almost the same as it would have hundreds of years ago. Visit here to explore the huge grounds of the temple and its ten smaller sub-temples.