Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

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)

How to visit a shrine or a temple: one example

Sources (in Japanese)

This site is independent of the shrines, temples, and other websites mentioned. No partnership or endorsement is implied.