Daigoji Temple

A Great Shingon Temple on Mountain and Plain

The Daigoji Temple (醍醐寺, Daigoji) is a Shingon temple in Daigo Higashi-oji-cho, Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, whose mid-Heian five-storied pagoda was designated a National Treasure in 1951; its main hall, Seiryugu worship hall and Yakushido hall are also National Treasures, and its Seiryugu main hall, Kaisando and Nyoirindo halls and other buildings are Important Cultural Properties.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that Daigoji is divided into an upper and a lower temple, each with its own Seiryugu guardian shrine.

Daigoji says that the upper and lower precincts together hold six National Treasure and ten Important Cultural Property buildings.

The Lower Temple

According to the Agency, the five-storied pagoda was planned with the main hall (since lost) in the Johei era (931 to 938) and completed after twenty years in 952, a precious representative of the mid-Heian period. Daigoji says it was begun by Emperor Suzaku to pray for Emperor Daigo and completed under Emperor Murakami in 951, and that it is the oldest wooden building in Kyoto Prefecture.

Daigoji explains that the main hall (a National Treasure) at the centre of the lower precinct was moved from Yuasa in Kii on the orders of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and keeps its late Heian style in its main parts. The lower precinct also contains the Seiryugu main hall, an Important Cultural Property.

The Upper Temple

According to the Agency, the Seiryugu of the upper temple was founded in 1089, and the present worship hall was raised in 1434. Built out over a steep slope on tall posts, it is an important surviving Muromachi worship hall.

The Yakushido, a principal hall of the upper temple, was rebuilt from 1121 and dedicated in 1124; the Agency values it as one of the few surviving Heian buildings. The upper temple also contains the Kaisando and Nyoirindo halls, Important Cultural Properties.

Visiting Daigoji

Daigoji is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the summer season (1 March to the first Sunday of December) and 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in winter, with admission ending 30 minutes before closing; hours change in spring.

In the regular season a combined ticket for Sanboin, the precinct and the Reihokan museum is 1,500 yen for adults and 1,000 yen for secondary students, sold at the Sanboin reception. Parking is limited and roads are narrow, so public transport is recommended.