Tenporinji Temple is a historic temple of the Koyasan Shingon school of Buddhism, located in Inukai-cho, Gojo City, Nara Prefecture. Closely associated with the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi (Kukai), the founder of Shingon Buddhism, it has attracted worshippers for centuries as a sacred site steeped in religious tradition. Its history intertwines Buddhist devotion, mountain worship, and legends connected with the establishment of Mount Koya as one of Japan’s most important spiritual centers.
The temple’s origins are associated with the early Heian period. According to tradition, in 815, when Kukai was 42 years old, he left the capital of Heian-kyo in search of a suitable place for religious practice. During his journey through Uchi District in Yamato Province, in what is now Gojo City, he lost his way.
A hunter who called himself “Inukai of the Southern Mountains” appeared and lent Kukai two dogs, one white and one black. Other versions of the story describe the dogs as both black. Guided by the animals, Kukai eventually reached Mount Koya safely. This legend is an important part of the temple’s traditional history and its connection with the founding of Koyasan.
On his way to Mount Koya, Kukai is also said to have encountered a mysterious goddess in Amano, in what is now Kamitennō in Katsuragi Town, Wakayama Prefecture. The goddess was Niutsuhime-no-Okami, who, according to legend, granted Kukai an extensive sacred domain that included Mount Koya. This story is traditionally regarded as one of the origins of Koyasan’s status as a sacred religious center.
The hunter known as Inukai of the Southern Mountains is believed in local tradition to have been the son of Niutsuhime-no-Okami. He later came to be revered as Kariba Myojin, also known as Koya Myojin or Koya-no-Miko-no-Okami. These divine figures subsequently became objects of worship at Tenporinji Temple, reinforcing its spiritual connection with Mount Koya.
In 816, Kukai is said to have established a temple called Inukai-san Henjoan in Inukai-cho, with the assistance of a local landowner named Kawasaki Jinzaemon, who was known by his Buddhist name, Dowa Hoshi. This foundation is regarded as the beginning of what later became Tenporinji Temple.
The temple was initially known as Inukai-san Henjoan before adopting the name Tenporinji. Its name changed several times over the centuries, and in 853 it became known as Inukai-san Henjoin Tenporinji.
Like many historic religious institutions, the temple endured periods of hardship. During the tenure of its 30th head priest, Jitsujo, a major fire destroyed numerous valuable objects associated with Kobo Daishi. Despite these losses, the temple continued to be rebuilt and maintained by successive generations.
The main hall and priests’ quarters were reconstructed in 1505, followed by further improvements over the next fourteen generations. In 1659, the Daishi Hall and the shrines dedicated to the two deities were rebuilt. Additional structures, including a Goma Hall for fire rituals, a Jizo Hall, and a large lecture hall, were added during the Showa period (1926–1989), contributing to the temple complex seen today.
The present main hall dates from the Edo period. It is a square, three-bay structure with a pyramidal roof covered in copper sheets. Inside, the raised and intricately framed ceiling is decorated with paintings of celestial maidens, creating an atmosphere of solemn beauty and quiet reverence.
The temple grounds contain two small shrines: Kariba Myojin Shrine and Niutsuhime Myojin Shrine. Both are built in the Kasuga-zukuri architectural style and are believed to date from the Muromachi period. Restoration work carried out in 1994 revived the vivid decorative colors associated with their original appearance, allowing visitors to appreciate their traditional craftsmanship.
Behind the main hall, beyond the priests’ quarters, lies Daishizuka Kofun, a small burial mound measuring approximately 12 meters in diameter. A stone marker inscribed with the date 1552 bears the Buddhist invocation “Namu Daishi Henjo Kongo,” a sacred title associated with Kobo Daishi. The inscription is considered one of the oldest surviving examples of this invocation and is a valuable historical record of the temple’s religious traditions.
Archaeological excavations in 1941 uncovered Sue ware pottery, Haji ware pottery, horse equipment, a straight sword, and beads or other ornaments. A rare vessel shaped like a grass bag attracted particular attention among the discoveries, highlighting the archaeological importance of the site.
Another burial mound, Myojinzuka Kofun, stands behind the Myojin shrines. A stone marker there bears the inscription “Namu Niuda Myojin, 1552.” Like Daishizuka, this mound reflects the long-standing relationship between burial sites and religious devotion in the area.
Tenporinji’s legends are closely linked to Niutsuhime Shrine, also known as Amano Taisha, in Katsuragi Town, Ito District, Wakayama Prefecture. Dedicated to Niutsuhime-no-Okami, the shrine is deeply connected with the religious history of Mount Koya. In 2004, it was registered as part of the UNESCO World Heritage property “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.”
The spiritual ties between Tenporinji and Niutsuhime Shrine remain an important part of the temple’s heritage, illustrating how Buddhist traditions and indigenous Japanese beliefs developed together in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula.
Tenporinji Temple preserves a remarkable combination of legends associated with Kobo Daishi, historic Buddhist architecture, ancient burial mounds, and traditions connected with the sacred landscape of Mount Koya. Its buildings and archaeological remains offer a glimpse into centuries of religious devotion and cultural exchange. For travelers interested in Japanese Buddhism and the spiritual history of the Kii Mountains, the temple provides an opportunity to explore a quieter but meaningful part of the region’s sacred heritage.