Buddhist temple
Saidai-ji
西大寺（さいだいじ）
Higashi Ward, Okayama, Okayama Prefecture
A special head temple (bekkaku honzan) of Kōyasan Shingon in Higashi Ward, Okayama, also called Kannon-in. Its principal image is a hidden Senju Kannon, and it is known as the temple of the Eyō (Naked Festival).
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: Senju Kannon
History and things to know
According to the temple's tradition, it began in Tenpyō Shōhō 3 (751) when 藤原皆足姫 built a small hall at Kanaoka and enshrined a Senju Kannon there. It is said that in Hōki 8 (777) the priest 安隆, who had been practicing at Hase-dera, received a revelation in a dream and built temple halls, first calling it 犀戴寺 and later renaming it 西大寺 (Saidai-ji).
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Related kami and buddhas
Before you visit
This is a different temple from Saidai-ji in Nara (Saidaiji-naka, Higashi Ward, Okayama).
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 西大寺「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-22 確認）
This site is independent of the shrines, temples, and other websites mentioned. No partnership or endorsement is implied.