Yoshino, Nara / 金峯山寺

Kinpusenji Temple

Rising high on the ridge of Mt. Yoshino, Kinpusenji was founded in the Asuka period by En no Gyoja, the founder of Shugendo. The present hall, rebuilt in the Azuchi-Momoyama period, is the largest old wooden building after the Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji. The principal images are three Zao Gongen, each a 7 m statue kept as a hidden image in one of the largest shrines in Japan. The Shuhoden hall screens a VR film about the temple. (World Heritage)

Last official check

27 Sept 2026

Traveler reports

Reports open in Phase 2

Next scheduled check

26 Dec 2026

Decide before you go

A short summary made from the official facts below. Check the rows for details.

Getting there: Train / Bus
Admission: Paid (see the price below)

Before you go

Only facts we confirmed on official sources are shown. Anything else is marked “Not checked yet”.

Opening hours: 8:30-16:00 (Zaodo hall 8:30-16:00).
Checked 27 Sept 2026 on the official site
Closed: Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
Admission: Zaodo hall: adults 800 yen, junior high and high school 600 yen, elementary 400 yen (10% off for groups of 30 or more; half price for people with disabilities); during special openings of the hidden principal images: adults 1,600 yen, junior high and high school 1,200 yen, elementary 800 yen (100 yen off for groups of 30 or more; half price for people with disabilities); the grounds are free.
Checked 27 Sept 2026 on the official site
Getting there: From Kintetsu Yoshino Station, 10 minutes on foot from the upper ropeway station; check whether the ropeway is running (replacement bus: Yoshino Omine Cable Jidosha; latest transport information: Yoshino Town website).
Checked 27 Sept 2026 on the official site
Parking: Free.
Checked 27 Sept 2026 on the official site
Payment: Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.
Accessibility: Not checked yet — we have not confirmed this on an official source yet. Check with the spot before you go.

Found wrong or outdated information? Let us know

Address: Yoshino, Nara (Japanese address: 奈良県吉野郡吉野町吉野山2498)

Official site: https://yamatoji.nara-kankou.or.jp/01shaji/02tera/04south_area/kimpusenji/

Location

Smaller pins are other spots nearby.

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Nearby spots

Distances are straight-line distances, not travel distances.

Crowds

Crowd level: Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
Best time to visit: Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
Peak time: Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
Busiest days: Special opening of the hidden principal images, October 24-November 30, 2026, 8:30-16:00 (viewing may stop for services).
Checked 27 Sept 2026 on the official site
Busiest season: Not checked yet — no official source yet, and not enough traveler reports.
Latest traveler report: None yet

Traveler crowd data by time of day appears after 5 traveler reports (0 so far).

You can check typical busy hours in Google Maps ("Popular times" on the place's page). Open this spot in Google Maps

Visiting respectfully

Local etiquetteMorning service in the Zaodo every day 6:30-7:15 (free, charged during special openings, no booking); daily goma fire ritual in the Zaodo from noon (times vary; open to the public).Checked 27 Sept 2026 on the official site

Verification log

27 Sept 2026First check · Tourism board · https://yamatoji.nara-kankou.or.jp/01shaji/02tera/04south_area/kimpusenji/Hours, description and coordinates read from a tourism organization's site.
27 Sept 2026First check · Tourism board · https://yamatoji.nara-kankou.or.jp/01shaji/02tera/04south_area/kimpusenji/access/Access and parking read from a tourism organization's site.