Japan Heritage
Katsuragi Shugen

A journey ofprayer anddiscovery
The birthplace of Shugendo,
a tradition passed down through generationsof believers and villagers

Japan Heritage

Katsuragi Shugen
The birthplace of Shugendo

8. Inunakisan Shipporyu-ji Reishogatake

5. Mt. Kuratani

2. Former Shinpuku-ji Temple
4. Sakura Jizo
1. Tomogashima

3. Mt. Daifuku / Mt. Unzan

The Katsuragi mountains, which straddle the three prefectures of Wakayama, Osaka, and Nara, are where En no Gyoja, considered thefounder of Shugendo, first practiced his ascetic training. This region is thus the birthplace of Shugendo. The 112-kilometer stretch ofmountains has long been revered as a home to many deities. En no Gyoja, who trained here for years, buried each of the 28 chaptersof the Lotus Sutra in sutra mounds across the area.
To make a pilgrimage to these sutra mounds, as well as to temples, shrines, waterfalls, megaliths, and other sites connected to En no
Gyoja, is called Katsuragi Shugen. The area is also dotted with related cultural assets. Registered as a Japan Heritage in June 2020,
Katsuragi Shugen not only remains an important training site for Shugendo followers, but is also a magnet for countless tourists whocome to experience the history and allure of the region.

The Katsuragi Shugen Story
Ascetic training begins
by the sea

Training rooted in local
communities

Katsuragi Shugen—
today and tomorrow

The first sutra mound, Johon, is located on
Torajima, one of the four islands of
Tomogashima off the coast of Kada,
Wakayama. Given that Shugendo is a
mountain-focused religion, it’s unusual that
one of its sacred training sites is by the ocean.
From nearby Okinoshima Island—where
regular tourists take a ferry to visit—Shugendo
practitioners walk to Torajima across a rocky
stretch that appears only at low tide. The
Shugendo trail that starts from Tomogashimacontinues on to Kada, Wakayama.

Because the mountains of Katsuragi Shugen
are not very high and are relatively accessible,
Katsuragi Shugen’s ties with local
communities are stronger compared to other
Shugendo training routes. Shugendo
practitioners have been deeply involved in thelocals’ faith in these places.
Local villages have households that haveprovided lodging and assistance for Shugendo
practitioners. The Oku family of Izumisano,
Osaka provided a place of rest, as shown by
documents found in the household.

To this day, many people go throughKatsuragi Shugen training. While many of thedestinations require you to clear difficult
obstacles—for example, travel unmapped
paths, climb cliffs, and cross streams—inrecent years you can get close to some sites
by car or public transportation. This is aconvenient way to begin getting to know
Katsuragi Shugen and to experience
Katsuragi’s beautiful nature, culture, andhistory.

Sutra mound #1 is found on Torajima of Tomogashima

The Oku family residence was used as a place of rest by
Shugendo practitioners

The Diamond Trail leads to Shugendo training sites

The 28 Sutra Mounds of Katsuragi Shugen• There are various theories about the names of the 28 chapters of the
Lotus Sutra, and about the sutra mounds and their locations.
• The drawings are for illustrative purposes only.

28. Kameno-o-shuku / Mt. Myojin
27. Ousaka

25. Koki-ji Temple Kogebata

23. Kushira

22. Mizukoshi-tawa
21. Mt. Kongo

26. Mt. Nijo

24. Hiraishi-toge Pass

Mt. Minami-Katsuragi
14. Kagami no Shuku /Kotakiji Temple Buttokutawa

20. Former Ishi-dera Temple

16. Nagaredani Kongodoji

19. Mt. Jinpuku

10. Dai-itoku-ji Temple
18. Iwaze Mt. Kyozuka
15. Mt. Iwawaki

17. Amami-fudo

13. Mukai Tawa

9. Mine no Ryu-o

12. Goma no Tawa Hodome
7. Nakatsugawa

11. Nanakoshi-toge Pass Mt. Kyozuka

6. Shino-toge Pass
Kinokawa River

About Japan Heritage
A program of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan Heritage
recognizes stories of the traditions and cultures of Japan told throughthe allure and uniqueness of regional histories. It was established in2015 with the goal of promoting local communities by utilizing thetangible and intangible cultural properties that are the basis of thesestories. Katsuragi Shugen is one of the 104 stories that have so far
been recognized as a Japan Heritage.
(As of March 31, 2021)

Introduction to Katsuragi Shugen
En no Gyoja

Unique Shugendo attire

Shugendo founder En no Gyoja,
whose real name was En no Ozunu,
lived in the 7th and 8th centuries.
Many legends surround him; forexample, he is said to have hadsupernatural powers that allowed
him to move freely across the sky
and mountains, and he had faithfuldemon servants. After making the
Katsuragi mountains an ascetic
training ground, En no Gyoja moved
to Mount Omine, which to
Shugendo practitioners has become
just as important as Katsuragi
Shugen.

Because devotees climb wild, rugged
mountains, they have come to wear
highly functional attire—much like
today’s mountaineering wear. Besides
being convenient and allowing easy
movement, the Shugendo outfit also
embodies the teachings of the Buddha
in various forms. The outfit comprises
clothing and tools. The main clothing
items include an eight centimeter-wide
black skullcap, a suzukake robe on topof a white base-layer robe, and ayuigesa sash over the shoulders.
Tools include a horagai conch shell
trumpet used to communicate in themountains and a shakujo staff.

Statue of En no Gyoja (photo courtesy of
Shogo-in Temple, Shugendo headquarters)

Shugendo costume from Shipporyu-ji
TempleSutra mounds and training sites

Katsurei-zakki

En no Gyoja likened the mountains of Katsuragi to the world of
Buddhism. He put each of the 28 chapters of the Lotus Sutra in a
dedicated container and buried them in various places in the mountains.
The 28 places where the sutras were buried are called kyozuka (sutra
mounds) and are sacred sites central to the Katsuragi Shugen belief
system. A pilgrimage to these 28
sutra mounds is core to
Katsuragi Shugen. The route isalso dotted with other places
associated with En no Gyoja;
namely, places where he did his
ascetic training. Major training
sites can be found in Meisho
Zu-e illustrated guidebooks
published in the Edo Period.

Published in 1850, the Katsurei-zakki details things like the 28 sutra
mounds and their locations and plays a key role in explaining Katsuragi
Shugen to a modern audience. Shugendo almost ceased to exist when
the Meiji government of the late 19th century passed a law to abolish it.
Sacred sites fell into neglect, as did the paths leading to them. After
World War II, a movement began
to revive Shugendo. The
Katsurei-zakki and other books
helped followers conduct surveys
and locate sutra mounds andmany other Shugendo sites. Even
today, the book serves as a guidefor Shugendo devotees.

Sutra mound #20, Jofukyo Bosatsuhon atformer Ishi-dera Temple

Katsurei-zakki (owned by Shipporyu-ji
Temple)An island in the Kii Channel is the starting
point of the Katsuragi Shugen trail

Tomogashima(Torajima)

Tomogashima is a 20-minute ferry ridefrom Kada Port in Wakayama City. It’s
the collective name for a group of fourislands: Jinoshima, Torajima, Kamijima,
and Okinoshima. The first sutra mound,
Tomogashima Johon, is on Torajima. To
get there, you walk across at low tidefrom the east end of Okinoshima.
Note: As of March 2021, the path to
Torajima is closed.
 Wakayama City Tourism Department 073-435-1234↸ Kada, Wakayama-shi, Wakayama Prefecture 20 min. ferry ride from Kada Port� Visit anytime NoneJohon
Johon is sutra mound #1 and the starting point of the 28-station Katsuragi Shugen trail. In a fissure ofstone measuring 10 meters deep and 50 cm wide is the sutra mound—a stone monument engravedwith kanji saying it’s the first chapter of the Lotus Sutra. Ancient illustrated guidebooks like the Kii no
Kuni Meisho Zu-e described visiting this site as tainaikuguri (“passing through a womb”)—a practicesymbolizing rebirth. Even today Shugendo believers come from far and wide to visit this place.
 Wakayama City Tourism Department 073-435-1234 ↸�Kada, Wakayama-shi, Wakayama Prefecture Take a 20 min. ferry ride from Kada Port and walk about an hour from the pier�  None

Kada Kasuga-jinja Shrine
The shrine is said to have been moved to its
current location by Kuwayama Shigeharu (aretainer of warlord Hashiba Hidenaga) in 1596.
Legend holds that En no Gyoja, who wasusing Tomogashima Islands as a sacredtraining site, prayed to the shrine’s god as a
guardian deity. The carvings of the frog-leg
struts and transoms of the main hall arecharacteristic of the Momoyama Period. The main hall and the 14 wooden plaqueshave been designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
 073-459-0368 ↸�1343 Kada, Wakayama-shi, Wakayama Prefecture 10 min. walk from Nankai Kada Station�  9:30 to 16:30  5 spaces

Ajigamine Gyoja-do

Mount Daifuku Hiyuhon
Mount Daifuku is believed to be the location ofsutra mound #3. At the foot of the mountainare places with deep connections to Katsuragi
Shugen, such as Hakanotani Gyoja-do,
Daifukusan Hon’ei-ji Temple (affectionately
called Nougawa Kannon), and Narutakisan
Enmyo-ji Temple (popularly known as Narutaki
Fudoson).
 Wakayama City Tourism Department 073-435-1234↸�Nougawa, Wakayama-shi, Wakayama Prefecture 50 min. walk to the trailhead from JR Musota Station, and 2 hr. walk from there to the summit of Mt.
Daifuku��  None

Sakura Jizo Shingehon

Gyoja-do is a shrine dedicated to En no Gyoja,
who established Tomogashima as a sacredtraining site. Tradition holds that it was built by
Doko-hosshinno when he underwent ascetic
training in Katsuragi. Doko-hosshinno was ason of Emperor Goyozei, served as headpriest of Shogo-in Temple, and held the title
Overseer of Kumano Sanzan (the Three
Grand Shrines of Kumano). From its hilltop vantage point, it offers panoramic
views of Kada, the ocean, and Tomogashima Islands.

Sutra mound #4. A stone monument dated
1448 stands in Hannan’s Yamanakadani area.
The sutra mound was marked by an old
sakura (cherry blossom) tree, and thus wascalled Sakura Jizo. Others believe that sutra
mound #4 is in fact located to the south of JR
Yamanakadani Station. There you’ll find astone monument dated 1569 thatcommemorates monks who made a pilgrimage of 66 sacred sites related to the
Lotus Sutra.

 Wakayama City Tourism Department 073-435-1234↸�242 Kada, Wakayama-shi, Wakayama Prefecture  15 min. walk from Nankai Kada Station �  None Hannan City Hall 072-471-5678 ↸�Yamanakadani, Hannan-shi, Osaka Prefecture 10 min. drive from Hannan IC on Hanwa Expressway �  None

Kosen-ji Temple (Kyoshi Kannon)
The temple’s name, Kyoshi (“filially devoted
child”), is said to derive from an anecdote fromthe Asuka Period involving En no Gyoja andhis mother. En no Gyoja was wanted bygovernment officials, who accused him ofusing witchcraft to mislead the public. They
took his mother hostage but En no Gyoja gave
himself up instead to save his mother. On thetemple grounds is a stone monument assumed to mark the grave of En no Gyoja’s
mother.
 Misaki Town Industry and Tourism Department 072-492-2730 ↸�1464 Kyoshi, Misaki-cho,Sennan-gun, Osaka Prefecture  15 min. walk from Nankai Kyoshi Station �  None

Negoro-ji Temple
Negoro-ji Temple, the head temple of the
Shingi Shingon school of esoteric Buddhism,
was founded by Kakuban Shonin (known
posthumously as Kogyo Daishi), who isconsidered to have revived the Shingon sect.
Considering its origin as Bufuku-ji, which was
designated the 34th stop on the Katsuragipilgrimage, the temple has deep connections
to Katsuragi Shugen.
 0736-62-1144 ↸�2286 Negoro, Iwade-shi, Wakayama Prefecture  5 min. drive from Iwade-Negoro
IC on Keinawa Expressway � Adults 500 yen  April through October 9:10 to 16:30; November throughMarch 9:10 to 16:00 pm  80 spaces

Inunakisan(Shipporyu-ji Temple)

Shugendo practitioners from far andFounded by En no Gyoja in 661, Shipporyu-ji
Temple is the location of sutra mound #8. It isalso a training site of central importance inShugendo. Its honorific title, Inunakisan, whichliterally means “barking dog,” derives from
Emperor Uda’s praise of a dog that sacrificed
itself to protect a hunter from a giant serpent in
the mountains. The temple is also known as
Nyonin Omine (“women’s sacred mountain”) andaccepts female Shugendo trainees. The temple
has a pilgrimage route covering locations in themountains, including training sites, rocks, halls,
and mini shrines.

wide visit this nature-rich training 072-459-7101 ↸ 8 Ogi, Izumisano-shi, Osaka Prefecture 20 min. drive from Kaminogo IC on Kansai-kuko Expressway�� 7:30 to 16:30  50 spacessite surrounded

Seven Waterfalls, Including Gyoja no Taki Falls

by primeval forest

Of the 48 waterfalls in the mountains of Shipporyu-ji Temple, seven of them were named to evoke
seven treasures such as gold and silver as a way to laud the miraculous success of Emperor Junna’s
prayers for rain during a drought. These seven falls figure into the temple’s name, which literallymeans “temple of seven treasured waterfalls.” The seven waterfalls are called Ryokai no Taki, To no
Taki, Benten no Taki, Nunobiki no Taki, Kozuki no Taki, Gyoja no Taki, and Senju no Taki.
 072-459-7101 ↸�8 Ogi, Izumisano-shi, Osaka Prefecture 20 min. drive from Kaminogo IC on Kansai-kuko Expressway�  7:30 to 16:30  50 spaces

じOmine-ji Temple

Kisshoso-ji Temple

Said to have been founded by En no
Gyoja, Omine-ji Temple is recorded as asacred Shugendo training site in the
Shozan-engi, compiled in the early
Kamakura Period. In addition to the
Gyoja-do, its precincts include a 13-tiered
pagoda believed to be the tomb of En no
Gyoja’s mother. A Saito Daigoma fire
ritual is held every March.
 0736-37-0250 ↸�2-1 Ominedai, Hashimoto-shi, Wakayama Prefecture 5 min. drive from Hashimoto-higashi IC on Keinawa Expressway  20 spaces

じDaitaku-ji Temple
The temple was founded during the
Hakuho era when En no Gyoja
constructed a hut for use in ascetic
training and prayed for the coming ofYakushi Nyorai (the Medicine Buddha).
According to ancient documents, En no
Gyoja enshrined a statue of the Jizo
bodhisattva next to sutra mound #19 atMount Jinpuku and made the place anaffiliate of Daitaku-ji Temple.

This ancient temple is said to have been founded
by En no Gyoja and constructed at the order ofEmperor Jomei. It’s also believed to be hisbirthplace. Its name derives from the tradition that
En no Gyoja used a grass known as kisshoso tobuild a hut at the site. The temple’s precincts
include an ancient well from which En no Gyoja’s
first bath is said to have been drawn and a stone
on which he sat during meditation.

 0747-23-1744 ↸�581 Ozawa-cho, Gojo-shi, Nara Prefecture 15 min. drive from Gojo IC on Keinawa Expressway�  8:00 to 17:00  10 spaces 0745-62-3472 ↸�279 Chihara, Gose-shi, Nara Prefecture  5 min. walk from JR Tamade Station�
 9:00 to 17:00  Yes

じKatsuragi Hitokotonushi-jinja Shrine
This ancient shrine honors the deity
Hitokotonushi, who according to the
mythology described in the Kojiki and
Nihon Shoki appeared while Emperor
Yuryaku was hunting on Mount Katsuragi.
Hitokotonushi had the power to make any
wish that could be expressed in a word or
two (hitokoto or ichigon) come true. The
locals affectionately call this shrine“Ichigon-san.” 0745-66-0178 ↸�432 Moriwaki, Gose-shi, Nara Prefecture 10 min. drive from Gose-minami IC on Keinawa Expressway  50 spaces

Hiraishi-toge Pass Myo-on Bosatsuhon
Sutra mound #24. This mound is located on
Hiraishi-toge Pass, to the north of Mount
Iwahashi. Lying to the south of Mount Nijo,
Mount Iwahashi is on the border between
Kawachi (Osaka) and Yamato (Nara). On a
mountainside right before the pass, you’ll findstone steps leading to two stone statues—oneof En no Gyoja and another of the Buddhist
deity Fudo Myo-o.
 Environment and Community Development Department,
Kanan Town 0721-93-2500 ↸�Hiraishi, Kanan-cho,
Minami-kawachi-gun, Osaka Prefecture Take the Kongo Bus from Kintetsu Tondabayashi Station,
get off at Hiraishi bus stop, and walk 30 minutes  NoneOne-day Training at Shipporyu-ji Temple
Shipporyu-ji Temple offers one-day
training for those who wish to experience
Shugendo ascetic practice. Guided by a
Shugendo practitioner, you make a roundof training sites and places of worshiparound Inunakisan, followed bymeditation under the Gyoja no Takiwaterfall. Reservations are required 10days in advance and will be closed once
capacity is full.
 072-459-7101↸�8 Ogi, Izumisano-shi, Osaka Prefecture 20 min. drive from Kaminogo IC on Kansai-kuko
Expressway�� 8,000 yen (includes waterfall meditation garment
rental fee)
 Held on the third Sunday of each month (subject tochange). Check the temple’s website for the latestschedule.
 50 spaces

Horikoshi Shaku-kannon Temple
Horikoshi Shaku-kannon Temple stands
quietly in the mountains and is one of the
training sites of Katsuragi Shugen. The
temple’s principal object of worship, thestatue of Juichimen Kannon Bosatsu, issaid to have been carved by En no Gyoja
in the itto-sanrai manner, meaning eachstroke with a chisel was followed by threeprayers, as he prayed for his mother’srecovery from a painful internal disease.
The statue is enshrined in the main hall but is rarely shown to the public.
 0736-25-0001 ↸�1360 Higashitani, Katsuragi-cho, Ito-gun, Wakayama Prefecture  20 min. drive from
Kihoku-Katsuragi IC on Keinawa Expressway�  20 spaces

Makiosan Sefuku-ji Temple
This famous temple was founded by orderof Emperor Kinmei. It was a Shugendotraining site and is home to legends
associated with Kukai, the great monk.
On the temple grounds is Kami-do, where
it is believed Kukai shaved his head upon
converting to Buddhism. Other highlights
include a statue of the bodhisattva Bato
Kannon that shows the soles of his feet
and a 4-meter-high seated statue of thedeity Hochigai Daikannon.
 0725-92-2332 ↸�136 Makiosan-cho, Izumi-shi, Osaka Prefecture  20 min. drive from Kishiwada-Izumi
IC on Hanwa Expressway��  Main hall 500 yen  8:00 to 17:00 (December through February: 8:00 to
16:00)  100 spaces

Dai-itoku-ji Temple Hosshihon
Sutra mound #10. Dai-itoku-ji Temple issaid to have been founded by En no
Gyoja. On the temple grounds is a largestone engraved with bonji script. The
Katsurei-zakki mentions that a stone
believed to be sutra mound #10 is foundwithin the temple gate.

 Kishiwada City Tourism Department 072-423-9486 ↸�1178 Ohsawa-cho, Kishiwada-shi, Osaka Prefecture From Nankai Kishiwada Station, take the Nankai Wing Bus bound for Ushitakisan, get off at Ushitakisan bus
stop, and walk 3 minutes  None

Yushutsuzan Iwawakiji Temple
Situated partway up the north side of Mt.
Iwawaki (elevation: 897 meters), which is
known as a sacred Katsuragi Shugen
training site, Iwawakiji Temple is believed
to have been founded by En no Gyoja at
the order of Emperor Monmu during the
Taiho era (701 to 704). Its honorific title“Yushutsuzan” derives from the title ofchapter 15 in the Lotus Sutra and theappearance of the temple surroundings,
which seems like rocks gushing forth.
 0721-62-4000 ↸�3824 Kagata, Kawachinagano-shi, Osaka Prefecture  60 min. drive from
Kishiwada-Izumi IC on Hanwa Expressway  50 spaces (scattered in six locations about 1.5 km on the way
to the temple)

Nakatsugawa
Gyoja-doNakatsugawa Gyoja-do, which is also
known as “Chudai,” plays a central rolein Katsuragi Shugen. It hosts the
Katsuragi Kanjo ritual in which the title ofyamabushi is conferred upon followers
undergoing ascetic training by Shogo-in
Temple. The temple also hosts meetings
in which local residents talk about
subjects such as preparations for the
Gomaku fire rituals held each spring andwelcoming Shugendo pilgrims.

An ascetic training site central Kinokawa City Tourism Department 0736-77-0843↸ Nakatsugawa, Kinokawa-shi, Wakayama Prefecture 15 min. drive from Kinokawa IC on Keinawa
Expressway�  None

to Katsuragi Shugenthat retains its solemn
historical air

Gomaku Fire Ritualat Nakatsugawa Gyoja-do
The Saito Gomaku fire ritual is held every April by priests from Shogo-in Temple.
In this important ancient ceremony, a special altar is constructed at
Nakatsugawa Gyoja-do to pray for the success of ascetic training on Mount
Omine by Shugendo practitioners.

Taima-dera Temple

Donzuru-bo PeakThe oddly shaped rocks of Donzuru-bo werecreated by pyroclastic flows and volcanic ash
from Mount Nijo’s volcanic activity. The nameDonzuru-bo literally means “a flock of cranes,”
the image the landscape evokes when seenfrom afar. The place serves as a Shugendotraining site.
 Commerce and Industry Department, Kashiba City 0745-44-3312 ↸�Anamushi, Kashiba-shi, Nara
Prefecture  10 min. drive from Kashiwara IC on Nishi-Meihan Expressway  5 spaces

Mount Myojin Fugen Bosatsu Kanbotsuhon
Sutra mound #28. It is believed the 28th
chapter of the Lotus Sutra was buried
somewhere on Mount Myojin, which is part of
the Mount Nijo range. The Shozan-engi,
compiled in the early Kamakura Period,
records that the burial of the 28th and final
chapter of the Lotus Sutra was completedhere.
 Oji Town Tourism Association 0745-33-6668 ↸�2640 Hatakeda, Oji-cho, Kita-katsuragi-gun, Nara
Prefecture  5 min. drive from Kashiba IC on Nishi-Meihan Expressway (to parking lot), 40 min. walk to
the mountaintop�  Parking lot open 9:00 to 19:00  35 spaces

At the time Taima-dera Temple was founded, the eastern base of Mount Nijo was
owned by En no Gyoja. He donated the land to allow the temple to be built there. It
was here that En no Gyoja first practiced ascetic training. To the south of the
Kondo hall is a stone on which En no Gyoja sat when worshiping, testifying to thelegend.
 0745-48-2001 ↸�1263 Taima, Katsuragi-shi, Nara Prefecture  15 min. walk from Kintetsu Taimadera
Station  15 spaces

Kameno-o-shuku Fugen Bosatsu Kanbotsuhon
The rock “Kameishi” is in the Yamato River
Called “Kamenose.” It is said to be alternative
location of sutra mound #28. This large granite
rock, which has been eroded over millennia by
the rapids, appeared as an illustration entitled“Kame-ishi” in the Yamato Meisho Zu-e of the
Edo Period.
 Kashiwara City Cultural Assets Department 072-976-3430 ↸�Toge, Kashiwara-shi, Osaka Prefecture 15 min. drive from Kashiba IC on Nishi-Meihan Expressway  None

Tenporin-ji Temple

A central Katsuragi Shugen training site on the

Tenporin-ji Temple’s origins go back to 665 when
En no Gyoja prayed to the guardian deity
Hitokotonushi and summoned the Buddhist deity
Hoki Bosatsu to Mount Kongo. Counted among theseven great mountains of Shugendo, Mount Kongo
has flourished as a sacred site since ancient times.
The temple was abandoned during theanti-Buddhist movement following the government’s
separation of Buddhism and Shinto in the late 19th
century. The temple was revived after World War II.
To this day, it conveys the spirit of Katsuragi
Shugen. Hoki Bosatsu, the temple’s principal objectof worship, is rare because it is revered only in thearea around Mount Kongo. The temple is at thepeak of the mountain, making it the highest point of
the 28-station Katsuragi Shugen trail.

summit of Mount Kongo 0721-74-0873 ↸ At the peak of Mount Kongo, 472 Takama,
Gose-shi, Nara Prefecture  50 min. drive from Mihara-kita IC or
Mihara-minami IC on Hanwa Expressway�  None

Inquiries↸

Lotus Festival

Site of Tamon-ji Temple

The Lotus Festival is the oldest
festival at Tenporin-ji Temple. It is heldeach year on July 7, the anniversaryof En no Gyoja’s death. The event
includes offerings of lotus flowers, a
Saito Ogoma fire ritual, andfire-walking.

This mini temple in Chihayaakasaka Village is said to stand at
the site of Tamon-ji Temple, which was one of the seven great
temples of Mount Kongo and a training site used by Shugendo
practitioners. The mini temple enshrines the goddess Kishimojin,
the bodhisattva Jizo, and the Buddha Amida Nyorai, among
others, and it is still visited by Shugendo followers today.

Address

Access Chihayaakasaka Village Education Department 0721-72-1300 ↸ Chihaya,
Chihayaakasaka-mura, Minami-kawachi-gun, Osaka Prefecture  45 min. drivefrom Habikino IC on Minamihanna Road�  None



Hours



ClosedParkingFee/admission

Note: Foreign language assistance may not be available for all inquiries and facilities.

List of Katsuragi Shugen Cultural Assets
1

Tomogashima Johon

Wakayama City32

The rural landscape of Hinenosho Ogi

Izumisano City

63

Inunakisan (Shipporyu-ji Temple)

Izumisano City

2

Hobenhon at former Shinpuku-ji Temple

Misaki Town

33

Hibashiri-jinja Shrine

Izumisano City

64

Katsurei-zakki

Izumisano City

3

Mt. Daifuku Hiyuhon / Mt. Unzan Hiyuhon

Wakayama City

34

Oku Family Residence

Izumisano City

65

Masamoto-ko Tabihikitsuke

Izumisano City

4

Sakura Jizo Shingehon

Hannan City

35

Matsuo-dera Temple

Izumi City

66

Seven waterfalls, including Gyoja no Taki Falls

Izumisano City

5

Mt. Kuratani Yakuso-yuhon

Kinokawa City

36

Makiosan Sefuku-ji Temple

Izumi City

67

Katsuragi-odori Dance

Kishiwada City

6

Shino-toge Pass Jukihon

Kinokawa City

37

Niutsuhime-jinja Shrine

Katsuragi Town 68

Amefuri no Taki Falls at Ogami-jinja Shrine

Kishiwada City

7

Nakatsugawa Kejo-yuhon

Kinokawa City

38

Kono Amida-do Hall

Katsuragi Town 69

Sasa-odori Dance

Izumi City

8

Inunakisan Shipporyu-ji Reishogatake
Gohyakudeshi-jukihon

Izumisano City

39

Iwawakiji Temple

Kawachinagano City 70

Horikoshi Shaku-kannon Temple

Katsuragi Town

9

Mine no Ryu-o Jugaku-mugaku-ninkihon

Kinokawa City

40

Sokoku-ji Temple

Gojo City

71

Katsuragi Zao Gongen-sha Shrine

Katsuragi Town

10

Dai-itoku-ji Temple Hosshihon

Kishiwada City

41

Mt. Kongo

Gose City

72

Tennyosan Shoraku-ji Temple

Katsuragi Town

11

Nanakoshi-toge Pass Mt. Kyozuka Kenhotohon

Izumi City

42

Taima-dera Temple

Katsuragi City

73

Omine-ji Temple

Hashimoto City

12

Goma no Tawa Hodome Daiba-dattahon

Katsuragi Town 43

Taima-dera Temple Nakanobo

Katsuragi City

74

Fudoyama no Kyoseki Boulders

Hashimoto City

13

Mukai Tawa Kanjihon

Katsuragi Town 44

Kannen-kutsu Cavern

Wakayama City

75

Hashimoto City

14

Mt. Minami-Katsuragi Kagami no Shuku Anrakugyohon /Kotakiji Temple Buttokutawa Anrakugyohon

Hachidai-ryuo/Katsuragi Myojin Spring Festival
at Tokaku-ji Temple

Hashimoto City /Kawachinagano City

45

Shinja-ike Pond

Wakayama City

76

Miyanoko and Katsuragi-jinja Shrine New Year’s Event

Hashimoto City

15

Mt. Iwawaki Juji-yujuppon

Kawachinagano City 46

Site of Akai Well

Wakayama City

77

Gyoja-mairi RitualHashimoto City

16

Nagaredani Kongodoji Nyorai-juryobon

Kawachinagano City 47

Tsurugino-ike Pond on Kamishima Island

Wakayama City

78

Kotakiji Temple

Kawachinagano City

17

Amami-fudo Funbetsu-kudokuhon

Kawachinagano City 48

Ebi-matsuri Festival at Kada Kasuga-jinja Shrine

Wakayama City

79

Kotakiji Temple Sumiyaki Fudoson

Kawachinagano City

18

Iwaze Mt. Kyozuka Zuiki-kudokuhon

Kawachinagano City 49

Kishu Kadaura Saito Daigomaku Ritual

Wakayama City80

Daitaku-ji Temple

Gojo City

19

Mt. Jinpuku Hosshi-kudokuhon

Gojo City

50

Ajigamine Gyoja-do

Wakayama City

81

Jifuku-ji Temple

Gojo City

20

Jofukyo Bosatsuhon at former Ishi-dera Temple Gose City

51

Kada Awashima-jinja Shrine

Wakayama City

82

Site of Tamon-ji Temple

Chihayaakasaka
Village21

Mt. Kongo Nyorai-jinrikihon

Gose City

52

Jogyo-ji Temple

Wakayama City

83

Tenporin-ji Temple

Gose City

22

Mizukoshi-tawa Zokuruihon

Gose City

53

Sainen-ji Temple

Wakayama City

84

Kisshoso-ji Temple

Gose City

23

Kushira Yakuo Bosatsu Honjihon

Gose City

54

Narutakisan Enmyo-ji Temple (Narutaki Fudoson)

Wakayama City

85

Katsuragi Hitokotonushi-jinja Shrine

Gose City

24

Hiraishi-toge Pass Myo-on Bosatsuhon

Kanan Town

55

Daifukusan Hon’ei-ji Temple (Nougawa Kannon)

Wakayama City

86

Taima-dera Temple Takenobo

Katsuragi City

25

Koki-ji Temple Kogebata Kanzeon Bosatsu Fumonhon Kanan Town

56

Hakanotani Gyoja-do

Wakayama City

87

Takao-ji Temple

Katsuragi City

26

Mt. Nijo Daranihon

Katsuragi City

57

Site of Nakayama-oji Shrine

Wakayama City

88

Donzuru-bo PeakKashiba City

27

Ousaka Myoshogon-no-honjihon

Kashiba City

58

Jigen-in Temple

Misaki Town

89

Bato Kannon of Anamushi-toge Pass

Kashiba City

28

Kameno-o-shuku Fugen Bosatsu Kanbotsuhon /Mt. Myojin Fugen Bosatsu Kanbotsuhon

Kashiwara City /Oji Town

59

Kosen-ji Temple

Misaki Town

90

Kannon-ji Temple and Miwa-jinja Shrine

Kashiba City

29

Kada Kasuga-jinja Shrine

Wakayama City60

Old Drawing of Negoro-ji Temple

Iwade City

91

Sekiya Jizoson

Kashiba City

30

Negoro-ji Temple

Iwade City

61

Nakatsugawa Gyoja-do

Kinokawa City

R3-1

Iwaya

Taishi Town

31

Kokawa-dera Temple

Kinokawa City

62

Kumano-jinja Shrine

Kinokawa City

R3-2

Shigo Senryo-odori Dance

Katsuragi Town

神戸市

Locations of the 28 Sutra Mounds

神戸空港
Yao City

Osaka Prefecture

Hyogo
Prefecture

Matsubara
City

Numbers 1 to 28 mark thelocations of the 28 sutra mounds
listed above.

27

Habikino City

Takaishi City

Kashiba City

Sakai City
Taishi
Town

Izumiotsu City

Osaka Bay

Heguri Town

YamatokoriyamaCity
IkarugaSango
Town Ando
Town
Tenri
Town
City
Oji
Kashiwara
Kawanishi
Town
Kawai
28
City
Town
28
Town
Fujiidera
MiyakeCity
Town

Osaka City

Akashi Strait

Osakasayama
City Tondabayashi
City

Tadaoka Town

25

26

Koryo Tawaramoto
Town
Town

Yamatotakada
City

24 Katsuragi
City

Kanan Town

Kashihara
City

23

Kansai Intl. Airport

Kishiwada
City
Tajiri Town

Misaki Town

Okinoshima
Takurazaki
Cape

3

5

3

2

12
13

20

18

Oyodo Town

19

17

Nara
Prefecture

14

Gojo City

Hashimoto City

7

Takatori
Town

Gose City

Shimoichi
Town

Katsuragi Town
Iwade City

Wakayama City

6

14
11

9

8
4

Jinoshima

15

10

KaizukaCity

IzumisanoCity

Hannan City

1

16

22

21

Kawachinagano City

Izumi City

Kumatori
Town

Sennan City

成ケ島

Chihayaakasaka
Village

Wakayama
Prefecture

Kudoyama Town

Kinokawa City

Tomogashima
Channel

高野町

天川村

野迫川村
Osaka
Prefecture

Wakayama Prefecture (Wakayama City, Hashimoto City, Kinokawa City, Iwade City, Katsuragi Town)
Osaka Prefecture (Kishiwada City, Izumisano City, Kawachinagano City, Izumi City, Kashiwara City,
Hannan City, Misaki Town, Taishi Town, Kanan Town, Chihayaakasaka Village)
Nara Prefecture (Gojo City, Gose City, Kashiba City, Katsuragi City, Oji Town)• The darker-colored areas on the above map show the cities, towns, and villages associated with Katsuragi Shugen.
• There are various theories about the names of the 28 chapters of the Lotus Sutra, and about the sutra mounds and their locations.

Nara
Prefecture

AssociatedMunicipalities

Wakayama
Prefecture

Katsuragi Shugen Japan Heritage Promotion Office, Tourism Promotion Section,
Wakayama Prefectural Government
1-1 Komatsubara-dori, Wakayama-shi, Wakayama
640-8585, Japan
Tel: 073-441-2424 Fax: 073-432-8313

Katsuragi Shugen website
https://katsuragisyugen-nihonisan.com/en/

Supported by a 2022 grant from the Agency for
Cultural Affairs Cultural Resources Utilization Project