Seigantoji Temple (青岸渡寺) is one of Japan’s most historically and spiritually significant Buddhist temples, located beside the revered Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine on Mount Nachi in Wakayama Prefecture. The temple is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range,” representing centuries of faith and pilgrimage traditions in Japan.

One of the temple’s defining features is the coexistence of Buddhism and Shintoism. Seigantoji, a Tendai Buddhist temple, shares the same sacred ground with Kumano Nachi Taisha, a Shinto shrine. This symbolizes the harmonious fusion of Japan’s two main religions before their separation during the Meiji era.

The temple’s most iconic view — a vivid red three-story pagoda standing before the 133-meter-high Nachi Falls — captures the sublime beauty of human devotion set against the grandeur of nature. It’s a sight that embodies the spiritual and aesthetic heart of Wakayama.

Seigantoji also marks the starting point of the ancient Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, Japan’s oldest Buddhist pilgrimage route. According to legend, it was founded in the 4th century by an Indian monk named Ragyo Shonin. The current main hall was later rebuilt in the 16th century under the rule of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, after the original structure was burned down by Oda Nobunaga.

• From JR Kii-Katsuura Station, take a bus to Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine (approximately 30 minutes). From there, it’s just a short uphill walk to reach Seigantoji Temple.

• Visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon for the best light on the pagoda and waterfall. The temple area is especially beautiful during spring’s cherry blossom season and autumn’s foliage.