Admission
- Adult (18+)¥800
- High School Student (15-18)¥600
- Elementary/Junior High (6-14)¥400
Nara, Nara Prefecture
At a Glance
Kinpusen-ji served as the headquarters for Emperor Go-Daigo during the Southern Court period, with the temple's powerful僧兵 (warrior monks) providing military support that rivaled even the great temples of Nara and Kyoto.
The temple's main hall (Zaō-dō) is Japan's second-largest wooden building, housing three towering blue Zaō Gongen statues with fierce expressions that are only revealed to the public during special opening periods in spring and autumn.
During winter, the main hall's floor becomes so cold that visitors describe their visit as a form of ascetic training, with temperatures dropping to around 2°C inside this unheated sacred space.
This temple offers goshuin, but we don't have photos yet. Be the first to share yours!
Typical Crowds
Bustling
Visit Duration
Standard (45-60 minutes)
Within 300 m Within 600 m
The three blue Zaō Gongen statues (secret principal images) are only displayed during special opening periods in spring and autumn, with admission costing 1,600 yen during these times versus 800 yen for regular visits.
If you arrive during a New Year prayer ceremony, you can join as a walk-in participant and receive a protective talisman upon leaving, adding unexpected spiritual value to your visit beyond the standard admission.
The temple's wooden floor becomes extremely cold during winter months when temperatures drop to around 2 degrees Celsius, making it difficult to concentrate during your visit.
Park at Hinoyu parking lot (1,000 yen per day during special opening periods) which is only a 15-minute walk to the temple, a distance manageable even for elderly visitors in their 80s.
3 structures on the grounds
Fascinating facts about this place
Kinpusen-ji served as the headquarters for Emperor Go-Daigo during the Southern Court period, with the temple's powerful僧兵 (warrior monks) providing military support that rivaled even the great temples of Nara and Kyoto.
The temple's main hall (Zaō-dō) is Japan's second-largest wooden building, housing three towering blue Zaō Gongen statues with fierce expressions that are only revealed to the public during special opening periods in spring and autumn.
During winter, the main hall's floor becomes so cold that visitors describe their visit as a form of ascetic training, with temperatures dropping to around 2°C inside this unheated sacred space.
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