Basic information

It is said to have been founded by Gyoki in the Nara period, and is known as "Women's Koyasan." During the Nanboku-cho period, it was a historical site for a time, with the temporary palaces of the Northern and Southern Courts located side by side by a wall. Due to this historical background, numerous national treasures and important cultural properties remain, and it is one of the cultural properties that make up the Japan Heritage "A Town Where You Can Encounter the Middle Ages" and "Women's Koyasan." Sake was brewed at Amanosan Kongoji Temple in the Middle Ages, and was famous as the national sake of Kawachi, "Amano." It was beloved by warlords such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and a letter from Toyotomi Hideyoshi remains at Kongoji Temple. The city's only sake brewery has reproduced the national sake of Kawachi, "Amano," based on documents from that time, and is selling it as "Sobō Sake."
■ Major Heisei Repairs
The current Kondo is thought to have been built at the beginning of the 14th century. It was extensively repaired by Toyotomi Hideyori during the Keicho era and by the Edo Shogunate during the Genroku era. Starting in 2009, it underwent a major restoration in the Heisei era, along with the pagoda and bell tower, which took approximately nine years to complete, restoring it to its vibrant colors. The National Treasure Triad of Statues enshrined in the Kondo (the principal image (seated statue of Dainichi Nyorai) and its attendant statues (seated statues of Gosanze Myoo and Acala)) was also repaired and inspected, and it was discovered that they were created by Gyokai, a senior disciple of the Buddhist sculptor Kaikei.
Sub-Temple Mani-in
It was once one of the 73 sub-temples of Kongoji Temple, and was the temporary palace of Emperor Go-Murakami from 1354 to 1359, so it is thought to have been an influential sub-temple. The front gate and the Tsukiji wall can be viewed from the outside, but the interior is not open to the public. You can visit if you make a reservation in advance. However, you can visit without a reservation on weekends and holidays in April, May, October, and November.