Ryuho-ji Temple is a historic temple of the Koyasan Shingon Buddhist tradition in Inami Town, Hidaka District, Wakayama Prefecture. Affectionately known by local people as “Otaki-san,” the temple has been a place of worship for centuries.
With its connections to the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes, Ryuho-ji has long welcomed pilgrims and travelers heading toward the sacred Kumano region. The temple is particularly associated with prayers for good relationships, protection from misfortune, healing, and good health.
Surrounded by peaceful mountain scenery, the temple grounds feature a sacred waterfall and spring, enormous cedar trees known as Meoto-sugi, and the Takihime Aizen Myoo-do Hall. Ancient legends and Buddhist traditions are woven into the landscape, giving visitors a chance to experience a quieter and more spiritual side of rural Wakayama.
The origins of Ryuho-ji are traditionally associated with Kobo Daishi Kukai, the founder of the Koyasan Shingon school of Buddhism.
According to temple tradition, in 810, Kukai performed Buddhist rituals at this location. During his religious practice, he is said to have received the protection of Kokuzo Bosatsu, a Buddhist deity associated with wisdom and memory.
After this spiritual experience, Kukai is traditionally believed to have established a temple here. The temple’s formal name is Inataki Taiho-in Jinguji Mantokuzan Ryuho-ji.
Ryuho-ji was known from ancient times as a sacred site for “Takara-mairi,” a pilgrimage undertaken to seek spiritual blessings and the fulfillment of wishes. Because the temple stood along routes associated with the Kumano pilgrimage, nobles, warriors, and ordinary travelers are said to have stopped here to pray for safe journeys and success in their endeavors.
Ryuho-ji is also associated with an ancient legend concerning Emperor Tenji. Before becoming emperor, when he was still known as Prince Naka no Oe, he is said to have faced difficulties concerning the succession to the throne.
According to tradition, the legendary Buddhist ascetic En no Gyoja performed a great religious ceremony at this location. The ritual was intended to pray for peace and stability in the country and happiness for its people.
During the ceremony, a radiant jewel is said to have appeared. From this shining jewel emerged Kinryu Mangan Fudo Myoo, a powerful manifestation of Fudo Myoo, who is said to have delivered a number of divine messages.
This Buddhist deity continues to be worshipped at Ryuho-ji as Yamanuki Fudo Myoo, or the “Fudo Myoo who removes illness.” Worshippers visit the temple to pray for relief from illness, worries, and misfortune.
The temple is also traditionally associated with Ichihara no Okimi, a grandson of Emperor Tenji. He is said to have visited Ryuho-ji and expressed his feelings about the sacred site in a poem recorded in the Man’yoshu, Japan’s oldest major collection of poetry.
These traditions demonstrate the long-standing role of Ryuho-ji as a place where religion, literature, and local history have come together.
One of the most famous legends connected with Ryuho-ji is the Legend of Hijiri-sama and Takihime. This story has played an important role in the temple’s reputation as a place to pray for love and meaningful relationships.
At the beginning of the Edo period, a devout woman named Tomi is said to have worked hard to restore the temple. She later had a daughter named Takihime, who grew into a beautiful and intelligent woman loved and respected by those around her.
Takihime reportedly prayed every day at Otaki-sama, developing a deep and sincere faith. One day, she encountered a mysterious figure known as “Hijiri-sama,” whom she had previously seen in a dream.
The two are said to have been brought together by a mysterious and extraordinary connection. According to the legend, Hijiri-sama was actually an incarnation of Fudo Myoo, while Takihime attained enlightenment through Aizen Myoo, the Buddhist deity associated with love, passion, and human relationships.
Because of this legend, Ryuho-ji became known as a sacred place for good relationships and successful romance. Even today, visitors come to the temple to pray for love, marriage, harmonious relationships, and meaningful connections with others.
One of the most distinctive features of Ryuho-ji is the sacred spring known as “Otaki.” It is traditionally associated with the place where Takihime offered her daily prayers.
The spring has long been believed to provide spiritual benefits related to healing illness, good health, and longevity. The gentle sound of flowing water adds to the peaceful atmosphere of the temple grounds.
For visitors, the spring offers a quiet place to pause and appreciate the connection between the natural landscape and Japanese religious traditions.
Two enormous cedar trees known as Meoto-sugi, or the “Couple Cedars,” stand on the temple grounds.
According to tradition, they were planted by Takihime’s parents, Furube Tomi and Kusukue-mon, as an expression of gratitude after they were blessed with a child.
The trees are said to have survived natural disasters and fires over the centuries. Today, they are regarded as symbols of marital harmony, good relationships, and prayers for children.
The ancient cedars are also a beautiful example of the traditional Japanese belief that certain trees can become sacred through their age, history, and connection with religious practice.
The Takihime Aizen Myoo-do Hall was built to commemorate Takihime’s spiritual awakening and to honor her memory.
Aizen Myoo is a Buddhist deity associated with love, passion, and human relationships. The hall therefore attracts visitors who wish to pray for romantic fulfillment and the development of positive relationships.
The quiet surroundings and mysterious atmosphere of the hall make it one of the most distinctive places to visit within the temple grounds.
Yamanuki Fudo Myoo is another important object of worship at Ryuho-ji. Fudo Myoo is one of the most powerful and recognizable figures in Japanese Esoteric Buddhism and is traditionally depicted holding a sword of wisdom.
At Ryuho-ji, he is revered as a deity capable of cutting away illness, worries, obstacles, and misfortune.
For visitors unfamiliar with Japanese Buddhism, the figure of Fudo Myoo offers an opportunity to learn about the powerful protective deities found within the Shingon Buddhist tradition.
In front of the Kannon-do Hall stands a Hokyoin-to stone pagoda believed to date from the middle of the Muromachi period.
The approximately 104-centimeter-high sandstone monument is a valuable example of medieval Japanese stonework and preserves the memory of the religious culture of its time.
The pagoda also helps illustrate the historical relationship between Ryuho-ji and the pilgrimage routes leading through the Kii Peninsula.
Ryuho-ji has long been associated with the Kumano Kodo, the network of ancient pilgrimage routes crossing the Kii Peninsula toward the sacred sites of Kumano.
Many members of the imperial family and aristocracy are traditionally said to have traveled through this region on pilgrimages to Kumano. Figures such as Emperor Go-Shirakawa and Emperor Go-Toba are associated with the long tradition of imperial pilgrimage to the Kumano region.
The journey to Kumano was not simply a physical journey. Pilgrims sought spiritual purification, healing, protection, and the fulfillment of prayers. Ryuho-ji formed part of this wider landscape of faith.
The temple experienced a major setback during the turbulent Sengoku period. In 1585, during the Tensho era, it was attacked and burned by forces associated with Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Despite this destruction, the temple was rebuilt through the dedication and support of local residents. The story of Tomi of the Furube family, who is said to have contributed her own property toward the restoration of the temple, illustrates the strength of the community’s faith.
The continued existence of Ryuho-ji today is therefore also a testament to the generations of local people who worked to preserve their religious and cultural heritage.
Ryuho-ji is different from large, bustling tourist attractions. It is a quiet temple where visitors can experience a slower pace and appreciate the surrounding natural environment.
The mountain landscape changes beautifully with the seasons. Fresh greenery in spring, deep green forests in summer, and colorful autumn foliage create a different atmosphere throughout the year.
Walking quietly through the grounds while learning about the temple’s legends allows visitors to step away from everyday life and experience a peaceful moment of reflection.
The temple is especially appealing to travelers interested in Japanese Buddhism, pilgrimage culture, traditional legends, sacred trees, nature, and the history of the Kumano Kodo.
Address: 495 Inamihara, Inami Town, Hidaka District, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan
By train: Approximately 10 minutes by car from JR Inami Station.
By car: Approximately 10 minutes from the Inami Interchange on the Hanwa Expressway.
Admission: Free
Ryuho-ji Temple is a place where ancient legends, Buddhist faith, pilgrimage history, and the natural beauty of Wakayama come together.
From the sacred Otaki spring and the Meoto-sugi cedars to the Takihime legend and the powerful figure of Yamanuki Fudo Myoo, the temple offers many opportunities to discover traditional Japanese beliefs.
Its connection with the Kumano Kodo also gives visitors a deeper understanding of the spiritual journeys that brought people to the Kii Peninsula for centuries. The stories preserved at Ryuho-ji reveal how pilgrimage was closely connected with hopes for healing, protection, love, and a better life.
When visiting Inami Town, consider taking time to explore this peaceful temple in the mountains. A visit to Ryuho-ji can be a memorable way to experience the history, legends, spirituality, and natural beauty of rural Wakayama.