Hinatayakushi Hojobo

Hinatayakushi Hojobo is a distinguished temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect, said to have been founded in 716 by the monk Gyoki. Its principal icon is the Yakushi Triad, centered on a seated Yakushi Nyorai (Medicine Buddha), and the temple has long been revered as a sacred site for prayers for healing and recovery from illness.

The grounds feature many highlights, including the main hall with its striking thatched roof, the Twin Cedars-natural monuments estimated to be around 850 years old-and the bell tower that houses a bronze bell designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The Treasure Hall preserves an exceptional collection of artifacts, among them the Yakushi Triad carved in the regionally distinctive nata-bori (adze-carving) technique, as well as the Twelve Heavenly Generals statues believed to date to the late Kamakura period. In total, the collection includes eight nationally designated and two prefecturally designated Important Cultural Properties.

Set amid the mountains, the temple is enveloped in a calm, dignified atmosphere that naturally puts visitors at ease. Another draw is the scenery through the seasons: plum blossoms and mitsumata flowers in early spring, cherry blossoms and lush greenery in summer, fields of cluster amaryllis and vivid autumn foliage-among the finest concentrations in the Kanto region-and, in winter, a quiet landscape sometimes dusted with snow.