Nachi-san Seiganto-ji Temple

With over 1,600 years of history, Seiganto-ji Temple on Mt. Nachi is a Tendai Buddhist temple that flourished as a center for syncretic practices blending Shinto and Buddhism. Known as the first stop of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, it draws numerous visitors each year and is recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range”.

The Main Hall (Nyoirin-do), rebuilt by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi after being destroyed by Oda Nobunaga's forces, is a designated Important Cultural Property. Also of note is Japan's oldest Treasure Pagoda (Hokyoin-to), inscribed with a 1322 date, which holds the same designation.

The temple's three-story pagoda, nestled against the iconic Nachi Falls, is steeped in history, with records showing visits by Emperors Shirakawa and Toba. Although the current structure was reconstructed in 1972, the stunning combination of the crimson pagoda and the 130-meter waterfall remains timelessly breathtaking. Visitors can enter the pagoda (admission required) to admire sacred Buddhist statues and take in the awe-inspiring views of the falls and the Pacific Ocean from the top floor.