Admission
Free
At a Glance
Daishoin features a pitch-black meditation tunnel called the Kaidan Meguri where visitors must navigate in complete darkness without any light, testing their spiritual fortitude as they walk through.
Founded in 806 by Kobo Daishi (Kukai), Daishoin is Miyajima's oldest temple and is counted among Japan's three most powerful temples for warding off bad luck and bringing good fortune.
This temple offers 1 different goshuin designs
Regular
Free
The temple grounds involve climbing multiple stairs as you ascend the hillside, so wear comfortable walking shoes and allow at least 1.5 to 3 hours to fully explore all the buildings, gardens, and sacred spaces without rushing.
Visit the Henjokutsu cave hall where you can perform the Osunafumi ritual by stepping on sand from all 88 temples of the Shikoku pilgrimage, gaining the same spiritual merit as completing the entire pilgrimage route.
Don't miss the Kaidan Meguri (戒壇巡り), a pitch-black corridor where you walk through complete darkness without any light to purify your sins and test your spirit, located in the Chinese Kannon Sacred Ground sand-stepping hall.
The divine spirits venerated at this sacred place
Fascinating facts about this place
Daishoin features a pitch-black meditation tunnel called the Kaidan Meguri where visitors must navigate in complete darkness without any light, testing their spiritual fortitude as they walk through.
Founded in 806 by Kobo Daishi (Kukai), Daishoin is Miyajima's oldest temple and is counted among Japan's three most powerful temples for warding off bad luck and bringing good fortune.
The temple's Henjokutsu cave contains all 88 Buddhist statues from Shikoku's famous pilgrimage route with sacred sand from each temple beneath them, allowing visitors to gain the merit of the entire pilgrimage in one visit.
The "eternal flame" burning at Daishoin's mountaintop Reikado hall has been lit continuously since Kobo Daishi kindled it in 806 AD, and became one of the source flames for Hiroshima's Peace Memorial flame.
Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture
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What this place is believed to grant
5.0
1 review
Plan on 1.5 to 3 hours here, and wear shoes you can actually walk in. The grounds climb a hillside through multiple staircases, so comfort matters more than style.
Two underground experiences stand out. In the Henjokutsu cave hall, the Osunafumi ritual lets you step on sand gathered from all 88 temples of the Shikoku pilgrimage, earning the same spiritual merit as walking the full route. The same area holds the Kaidan Meguri, a pitch-black corridor where you move through complete darkness, no light at all, as a way to purify sins and test your resolve. Both are worth the time.
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