Seiganto-ji

Temple

Prefecture

Wakayama

Type

Temple

N/A

0 reviews

Free

Entry Fee

Free Entry

About This Destination

The Tendai temple beside Kumano Nachi Taisha and the first stop of the Saikoku 33 Kannon pilgrimage, whose vermilion three-storied pagoda frames Nachi Falls in the most famous view in Kumano.

Seiganto-ji stands on the Nachi hillside right beside Kumano Nachi Taisha, and until the separation of Buddhism and Shinto in the Meiji era the two shared a single sacred precinct. A Tendai temple whose origins are tied to the worship of Nachi Falls, it is the first of the thirty-three temples of the Saikoku Kannon pilgrimage and draws pilgrims from across western Japan. Just below the main hall rises a reconstructed vermilion three-storied pagoda, and the view from beside it, the red pagoda in the foreground with the 133-metre thread of Nachi Falls behind, is the single most photographed scene in the Kumano region. A visit naturally combines the temple, the adjoining Kumano Nachi Taisha and the sacred waterfall itself, all a short walk apart at the head of the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi route.

Location

Prefecture: Wakayama

Address: Nachikatsuura, Wakayama, Japan

Nearest Station: Kii-Katsuura Station (bus)

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the famous Nachi pagoda-and-waterfall photo taken?

From the terrace beside Seiganto-ji's three-storied pagoda, which lines up the vermilion tower with Nachi Falls behind it. Entering the temple grounds is free; going up inside the pagoda costs about 300 yen.

How do Seiganto-ji, Kumano Nachi Taisha and Nachi Falls fit together?

They sit together at the top of the Nachi hillside and are all within a short walk: the shrine and temple share one precinct, the pagoda overlooks the falls, and a path leads down to the foot of Nachi Falls itself. Most visitors see all three on one trip.