Buddhist temple
Gaya-in
伽耶院（がやいん）
Miki, Hyōgo Prefecture
A temple of the Honzan Shugen-shū in Shijimi-chō, Miki City, with the mountain name Ōtanisan; it is a Shugendō temple whose head temple is Shōgo-in Monzeki. Its principal image is Bishamonten, which is designated a nationally Important Cultural Property.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Prayers associated with this place
Principal image: Bishamonten
History and things to know
According to its engi (founding record), it was opened in Taika 1 (645) by the hermit Hōdō Sennin and is regarded as a temple of imperial prayer (chokuganji) of Emperor Kōtoku. In the mid-Heian period it flourished with many halls and monks' lodgings, but the whole temple burned in the fires of war during Hashiba Hideyoshi's siege of Miki Castle and in an accidental fire in Keichō 14 (1609); the present halls and pagoda were built from 1610 onward with donations from various daimyō. In 1681, by order of Retired Emperor Gosai, the temple took the name Gaya-in, after Buddhagaya.
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Related kami and buddhas
Before you visit
Opening hours, access, areas open to visitors, and events can change. Please check the latest guidance from the shrine or temple itself before you go.
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 伽耶院「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-21 確認）
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