Daigoji
京都府
World Heritage head temple where Hideyoshi held his legendary cherry-blossom party
Founded
874
Type
Temple
Visited
Want to go
Access
10 min walk from Subway Daigo Station
22 Daigo Higashioji-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto
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Overview
The head temple of Shingon Daigo-ha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, founded in 874 by Rigen Daishi Shobo. Famous for the \'Daigo no Hanami\' cherry-blossom viewing party hosted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Its five-story pagoda is the oldest wooden structure in Kyoto Prefecture. The vast precincts, comprising upper and lower Daigoji, hold numerous National Treasure cultural assets.
Origins
Founded in 874 when Rigen Daishi Shobo, a grand-disciple of Kukai, climbed Mt. Kasatori at upper Daigo and enshrined self-carved Juntei Kannon and Nyoirin Kannon images at a hermitage. In 907 Emperor Daigo commissioned the Yakushi Hall, formally establishing the temple as an imperial chokuganji. The…
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Pilgrimage Circuit
A pilgrimage of 33 Kannon temples — the oldest Kannon circuit in Japan, winding through 6 prefectures in the Kinki region and Gifu
准
About Juntei Kannon
Juntei Kannon iconography (from Butsuzō Zui, Edo period)
Juntei Kannon (Cundī): the "mother of the buddhas," governing safe childbirth, child-rearing, and longevity. Depicted with three eyes and eighteen arms; held in particular esteem in esoteric Buddhism.
Kannon Forms · Seven Kannon
聖
Shō
十
Jūichimen
千
Senju
如
Nyoirin
馬
Batō
准
Juntei
不
Fukūkenjaku
View all 33 sites of Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage →
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Divine Benefits
Healing & Longevity
Warding Off Evil
Long Life
Recovery from illness, bodily wellness, peace of mind. Especially efficacious at Yakushi and Kannon temples.
Derived from the enshrined deity "薬師如来"
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Minamoto no Takaakira (914-983), tenth son of Emperor Daigo and a leading scholar of court ceremonial, rose to left minister but was demoted to nominal Dazaifu governor in the 969 Anna Incident. The Fujiwara clan's purge of rival lineages established their monopoly over the regency for centuries.
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Kyoto's Top Cherry Blossom Spots: A Spring Pilgrimage from Maruyama Park to Daigoji
From the weeping cherry of Maruyama Park to the 1,000 trees of Daigoji, Kyoto's spring blossoms transform temple and shrine grounds into breathtaking pink canopies. This guide covers peak timing, access, and a pilgrimage route linking five iconic sites.
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The five-story pagoda traces to the Indian stupa, a sacred structure housing relics of the Buddha. This guide explains the earthquake-resistant heart pillar (shinbashira) mechanism and explores Japan's most celebrated pagodas at Horyuji, Toji, Daigoji, Hokanji, and Sensoji.
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Visiting Information
Hours
Summer season 9:00–17:00, winter season 9:00–16:30. Kami-Daigo reception 9:00–15:00 summer, 9:00–14:00 winter.
Admission
Regular season: 3-site combo ¥1,500/¥1,000. 2-site combo ¥1,000/¥700. Single-site ¥600/¥400. Free for elementary and under. Spring higher rates.
As of 2026-07-17. Subject to change.
Official Links
Also Worth Visiting
醍
Daigoji Sanpoin
The stage of Hideyoshi's final cherry blossom party in 1598 — the Taiko Shidarezakura blooms in this World Heritage Special Scenic Garden
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Hokaiji
National Treasure Amida-do near Shinran's birthplace — venerated as the Nursing Yakushi since the Heian era
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一
Ichigon-ji
Shingon temple where the 'one-wish Kannon' grants any single sincere prayer, counted among the prestigious Daigo Three Schools
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勧
Kanshuji
Shingon head temple founded in 900 by Emperor Daigo for his mother, with a Mitsukuni-donated lantern and the lotus-covered Himuro Pond
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随
Zuishinin
Head temple of the Shingon Zentsuji school, founded 991 — Ono no Komachi's cosmetics well and love-letter burial mound remain on the grounds
2.6km
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醍
Mausoleum of Emperor Daigo (Nochi-Yamashina)
Imperial mausoleum of Emperor Daigo who ordered the Kokinwakashu, symbol of the Engi no Chi benevolent reign
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