Daigoji Temple

Daigoji (醍醐寺), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a key temple of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism, located southeast of central Kyoto. The vast temple complex spans an entire mountainside, with the main grounds at the base, connected by a hiking trail to additional temples at the summit. Visitors first encounter the Sanboin, a historic building surrounded by a beautiful garden, originally constructed in 1115 and reconstructed for Toyotomi Hideyoshi's cherry blossom party in 1598.

A short walk leads to the Shimo Daigo area, home to Daigoji's major buildings, including the Kondo Hall and the 38-meter-tall pagoda, Kyoto's oldest building. The Reihokan Museum, located at the temple base, showcases historical artifacts, while the temple grounds include the scenic Bentendo Hall by a pond. A trail to the upper Daigo area offers more temples and stunning views, rewarding climbers with peaceful landscapes and vistas stretching to Osaka.