Mount Daishi and Onsen-ji Temple

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About Mount Daishi and Onsen-ji Temple

Mount Daishi rises just behind Kinosaki Onsen, beside the Kono-yu bath. A ropeway departs from the foot of the mountain and makes a mid-station stop at the Onsen-ji temple before reaching the summit, about 230 meters above sea level. The full ride takes around 7 minutes.

Onsen-ji was founded in 738 by the monk Dochi, to whom tradition attributes the discovery of Kinosaki’s springs after a thousand days of prayer. For that reason the temple is considered the guardian of the baths, and visitors used to stop there before entering the water. The main hall, dating from the 14th century, is an Important Cultural Property and houses an eleven-faced Kannon statue shown to the public only on rare occasions, every several decades.

At the top of the mountain a viewpoint overlooks the Maruyama River valley, the village of dark roofs and, to the north, the Sea of Japan. There is a café with a terrace and short woodland paths. Those who prefer can walk down the temple trail, which passes gates and stone lanterns down to the village.

In autumn the maples around Onsen-ji usually color between late October and November, and in winter the mountain is often covered in snow. The temple museum, near the lower station, displays statues and objects from its collection.