Buddhist temple
Sakuramoto-bō
桜本坊(さくらもとぼう)
Yoshino, Yoshino District, Nara Prefecture
A Shugendō temple on Mt. Yoshino, Nara Prefecture, also called 井光山五臺寺 and Ōminesan Gojiin. Its principal image is a seated statue of En no Gyōja, and it also keeps a seated Shaka Nyorai and a seated Jizō Bosatsu.
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: seated statue of En no Gyōja (Jinben Daibosatsu)
History and things to know
According to the temple history, Prince Ōama dreamed of cherry trees in full bloom in Yoshino in winter, and after he ascended the throne as Emperor Tenmu, he built a place of practice beneath that cherry tree, named it Sakuramoto-bō, and welcomed 角乗, a leading disciple of En no Gyōja, as its chief priest. From then on it was a place of prayer for Emperors Tenmu and Jitō.
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Related kami and buddhas
Before you visit
The official website writes the name as "櫻本坊." Apart from its lodging on the summit of Ōminesan, the place to visit is the main temple on Mt. Yoshino.
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 桜本坊「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」(2026-10-22 確認)
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