Jingoji Temple

Jingoji, halfway up Mount Takao, is a historic head temple of the Shingon school and one of the great esoteric Buddhist temples of Japan. Fine buildings stand throughout the grounds — the study hall, the Godaido, the Bishamon hall, the founder's hall, the main hall. West of the main hall, at Jizo-in, you can throw kawarake discs out over the valley for protection against misfortune; in autumn, when the Kin'un ravine below turns deep red, the discs sail out and disappear into it by the hundred. The temple's National Treasure paintings and documents are shown publicly from 1 to 5 May.