Matsudaisan Onsenji Temple is a historic Buddhist temple located on Mount Daishi in Kinosaki, Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture. Belonging to the Koyasan Shingon school of Buddhism, it holds the distinguished status of a special head temple. Its principal object of worship is the Eleven-Headed Kannon, a Buddhist deity of compassion, and the temple has long served as a spiritual guardian of the Kinosaki Onsen hot spring district.
According to temple tradition, Onsenji was founded in 738 by the Buddhist priest Dōchi Shōnin, who is also credited with establishing Kinosaki Onsen. The temple’s name, Onsenji, and its mountain title, Matsudaisan, are said to have been bestowed by Emperor Shōmu, who reigned during the Nara period.
The temple is home to some of the oldest surviving wooden architecture in the Tajima region. Its main hall, built in the early Muromachi period, is among the historic structures that have been designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The grounds preserve centuries of religious devotion, traditional architecture, and Buddhist art.
Onsenji houses a remarkable collection of cultural treasures that reflect the development of Buddhist art in Japan.
Main Hall: Built in the early Muromachi period, the main hall combines elements of three architectural traditions: Japanese-style architecture, Zen Buddhist architecture, and the Great Buddha style. The building features a hipped-gable roof and a frontage five bays wide. It enshrines the temple’s principal image, the Eleven-Headed Kannon, and is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Painting of the Sixteen Benevolent Deities: This color painting on silk dates from the late Heian period and is designated an Important Cultural Property.
Standing Wooden Statue of the Eleven-Headed Kannon: Believed to date from the middle Heian period, this statue is traditionally attributed to the Buddhist sculptor Keibun.
Standing Wooden Statue of the Thousand-Armed Kannon: Created in the late Heian period, this Buddhist sculpture is also designated an Important Cultural Property.
Stone Hōkyōintō Pagoda: This stone pagoda, erected in the late Kamakura period, is another Important Cultural Property preserved at the temple.
The expansive grounds of Onsenji are divided into three main areas: the lower slopes of Mount Daishi, the mountainside, and the summit. Each area offers its own historic buildings, Buddhist statues, and places for quiet contemplation.
Sanmon Gate (Niōmon Gate): This impressive two-story gate, supported by eight pillars, was built during the Meiwa era of the Edo period (1764–1772). It serves as one of the temple’s most recognizable landmarks.
Yakushidō Hall: Built during the Bunka era (1804–1818), this hall enshrines Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha associated with healing and medicine.
Main Hall: The temple’s principal hall is notable for its blend of three architectural styles and its long history. Visitors can appreciate both its distinctive structure and the sacred atmosphere surrounding the principal image of Kannon.
Honbō: This building serves as the residence of the temple’s chief priest.
Tahōtō Pagoda: Reconstructed in 1768 during the Edo period, this multi-tiered Buddhist pagoda is said to be the only example of its kind in the Tajima region. It enshrines Dainichi Nyorai, the Cosmic Buddha associated with the Diamond Realm.
Stone Hōkyōintō Pagoda: This historic stone monument is one of several religious structures scattered throughout the temple grounds.
Bell Tower: Dating from the early Edo period, the bell tower adds to the traditional atmosphere of the temple. The sound of its bell carries across the surrounding grounds.
Oku-no-in Sanctuary: The inner sanctuary was rebuilt in 2010 and designed by Kurahashi Eitarō Architectural Design Office. Its location near the summit provides a peaceful setting for prayer and reflection.
Statue of the Compassionate Mother Kannon: Erected on October 28, 2007, this statue of Kannon is a place of devotion for visitors and worshippers.
Kanizuka Crab Memorial: This memorial mound commemorates crabs and reflects a tradition of offering prayers for living creatures.
Onsenji holds its annual Kaizanki Festival on April 23 and 24. The observance honors Dōchi Shōnin, the temple’s founder, and helps preserve the religious traditions and history that have shaped Onsenji and Kinosaki Onsen over the centuries.
From Kinosaki Onsen Station on the JR San-in Main Line, the temple is approximately a 15-minute walk away. Alternatively, take a Zentan Bus serving the Kinosaki area and get off at the Kōno-yu bus stop. The foot of Mount Daishi is about a two-minute walk from the stop.
From the base of the mountain, visitors can climb approximately 450 stone steps along the approach to reach the main hall. For a more convenient ascent, take the Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway to Onsenji Station. The ride from Kinosaki Onsen Station on the ropeway takes about three minutes, and the main hall is only a short walk from the upper station.