Tenkawa Village Sightseeing Website

When you visit Raigo-in Temple, located just near Tenkawa Daibenzaiten Shrine, the first things that catch your eyes are the weeping cherry blossoms in spring and the large ginkgo tree in autumn. This 35-meter-tall ginkgo tree is said to have been planted by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) and is designated as a Natural Monument of the prefecture. Raigo-in Temple is one of the sub-temples in the seven-hall complex of Tenkawa Daibenzaiten Shrine. Originally, it stood at the former imperial palace site in the inner sanctum of the shrine and was said to be a temporary imperial residence during the Southern Dynasty. It was reconstructed in its present location after being destroyed by a major fire. Inside the hall, there are statues of Senju Kannon (Thousand-Armed Kannon), Fudo Myo-o, and two guardian children. The "Ajikan Monument" beside the precincts bears the essence of esoteric Buddhism that Kobo Daishi attained during his training at Tenkawa Daibenzaiten Shrine, with the central Sanskrit letter "A" surrounded by 23 characters of the mantra representing the illumination of all things in the universe.