Kunisaki Peninsula and Rokugo Manzan

Map

History & Origins

According to tradition, the bodhisattva Ninmon founded the sites around 718, and at the end of the Heian period around 1,000 temple complexes are said to have existed. From the end of the Nara period into the Heian period, mountain worship developed into temple Buddhism, forming a unique syncretic culture of Shinto and Buddhism that fused Hachiman faith with Tendai mountain asceticism. The Shushi Onie ritual, held on the old lunar New Year, is still performed today and is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Highlights

Fukiji Daido is designated a National Treasure as the oldest wooden building in Kyushu, and the Amida Nyorai statue and wall paintings remain inside. The Kumano Magaibutsu are cliff carvings of Fudo Myoo and Dainichi Nyorai, 8 m and 6.7 m tall, said in legend to have been made by a demon in a single night. At the Shushi Onie fire festival on the old New Year, demons carrying torches run through the temple grounds in a dramatic spectacle.

Visitor Guide

The temples and shrines of the Kunisaki Peninsula are most convenient to reach by car. Local buses run from JR Usa Station or Hiji Station, but service is infrequent, so renting a car is recommended. A pilgrimage route combining Futagoji, Fukiji, and the Kumano Magaibutsu is popular.

Best Season

In spring (March to April) the grounds are beautiful with cherry blossoms and fresh greenery, and the time of the Shushi Onie on the old New Year (January to February) offers a distinctive atmosphere.

Blessings

Travel Plan

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