Iwawakiji Temple (Iwawakiji) sits amidst 400-year-old giant cedar trees on the steep mountainside of Mt. Iwawaki (500 meters above sea level). Its name, "Iwawaki," is said to derive from the sheer, soaring rock formations that appear as if springing forth. The temple is known as a sacred site for the Katsuragi Shugen sect, whose training grounds are in the Izumi and Kongo Mountains. According to temple legend, it was founded by En no Gyoja at the request of Emperor Mommu. Originally a Tendai Buddhist temple, it converted to the Yuzunenbutsu sect during the Meiji period. The pagoda, built during the Sengoku period, houses the principal image, a seated statue of Vajrayana Vairocana, created in the late Heian period. Both are designated Important Cultural Properties. The temple grounds are rich in nature, and visitors can enjoy begonias (best viewing season: September 1st-15th), rhododendrons, and seasonal wildflowers.