Daigo-ji

The head temple of Daigo School, Shingon sect, Daigo-ji is one of the largest temple complexes in Kyoto whose premises include the entire mountainside of the Daigo Mountain. Not only does it store a large number of national treasures and important cultural properties, but it is also designated as a World Heritage site. The complex is composed of two areas, “Kami-Daigo” around the summit of the mountain and “Shimo-Daigo” at the bottom of it, which has around 80 Buddhist temples and pagodas. The “Shimo-Daigo” area has a glorious atmosphere with the national treasure, Kyoto’s oldest Five-Storied Pagoda among other splendid Buddhist architectures, while “Kami-Daigo” is regarded as the toughest pilgrimage site among the 33 sacred sites in the Kinki area. The reason that Daigo-ji was established here was because of a fountain that was found in this area. Called the “Sacred Fountain of Daigo,” it keeps gushing out the spiritual water even today.