Head temple of the Kinpusen Shugendo sect on Mt. Yoshino, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Zao-do hall (National Treasure) is Japan's second-largest wooden structure after Todaiji, rebuilt under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The three secret Zao Gongen statues, the tallest at 7.28 m, are among Japan's largest hidden Buddhist images. Yoshino's cherry blossoms were originally planted as sacred offerings to Z…

Kinpusen-ji Temple is said to have been founded in the latter half of the 7th century (around 650) during the Hakuho period, when the ascetic En no Gyoja (En no Ozunu) is believed to have had a vision of Zaō Gongen while training on Mount Yoshino, carved the deity's form in mountain cherry wood, and…