Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-07 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Sanbutsu-ji, in the town of Misasa, Tottori, is by tradition said to have been founded by En no Gyōja (c. 634–701), the ascetic regarded as the founder of Shugendō. Its Nageire-dō hall, built in the Heian period, is a National Treasure; it is perched on a steep cliff face, held up on stilts in the kakezukuri style.
The Nageire-dō is on a cliff, so check the conditions for visiting before you go; we have not checked them, nor a public-transport route.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Sanbutsu-ji, hondou — Saigen Jiro · CC0 · source · resized
- Sanbutsuji 15 — Reggaeman · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Sanbutsuji 14 — Reggaeman · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Sanbutsuji 01 — Reggaeman · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Sanbutsu-ji, shouroudou — Saigen Jiro · CC0 · source · resized
- Sanbutsu-ji, noukyoudou — Saigen Jiro · CC0 · source · resized
- Sanbutsu-ji, motoyuikakedou — Saigen Jiro · CC0 · source · resized
- Sanbutsu-ji, monjudou — Saigen Jiro · CC0 · source · resized
- Sanbutsu-ji, kannondou-2 — Saigen Jiro · CC0 · source · resized
- Sanbutsu-ji, kannondou-1 — Saigen Jiro · CC0 · source · resized
What this place is
Sanbutsu-ji (三仏寺, Sanbutsu-ji) is a Buddhist temple in the town of Misasa, Tottori Prefecture, Japan. The Nageire Hall (投入堂, Nageire-dō) of Sanbutsu-ji, built in the Heian period is designated a National Treasure of Japan. By tradition Sanbutsu-ji was founded by the Buddhist ascetic and mystic of the late Asuka period monk En no Gyōja (ca. 634–701). En no Gyōja is considered the founder of Shugendō, a syncretic religion which incorporated aspects Old Shinto, Japanese folk animism and shamanism, Taoism and esoteric Buddhism of the Shingon Mikkyō and the Tendai sects. The Nageire-dō hall is perched on the steep cliffside, supported by stilts using the kakezukuri technique.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-07 · Official visitor information
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
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