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Inunaki-san Shipporyuji Temple

Located at Mt. Inunaki, this is the head temple of all Shingon Buddhist Inunaki Sect temples, and was founded in 661 by En-no-Gyoja, the famous ascetic and mystic who founded Shugendo.

The temple grounds cover 606,283 m2, but the entire area in these hills is one giant training site for Shugendo, with the sacred area which venerates the principal image of Kurikara Dairyu Fudo Myo’o being the focus of much faith, as well as deep mountain training and training in the hills for Katsuragi Shugendo practices.

It is one of the component cultural sites of the “Landscapes of the Hinenosho Estate: Town of the Tabihikitsuke Travelogue and Two Old Maps” Japan Heritage site, created in May 2019.

During the reign of Emperor Junna (824-834), there was a great drought throughout the realm, so the emperor caused prayers for rain to be offered at sacred mountains, shrines and temples throughout the provinces. At Mt. Inunaki, the resident priest performed rites for rain in front of the statue of Fudo Myo’o.

Then, miraculously, his prayers were answered, and merciful rain fell throughout the province of Izumi.

So Emperor Junna named this temple Shipporyuji, or Temple of the Seven Treasures Waterfall, referring to the Seven Treasures (Saptaratna) of Buddhism. The “seven treasures” here are the famed seven cascades in the hills of Inunaki.

The famous priest Kukai (Kobo Daishi) also worshipped the Seven Lucky Gods in these seven cascades.

For this reason, the seven cascades are known as the Sacred Cascades of the Seven Lucky Gods and Fudo, and it is said that once you make a pilgrimage to the mountain, you will be bathed in the aura of the Seven Lucky Gods and Fudo Myo’o, increasing your happiness and prosperity.

http://inunakisan.jp

Seven Cascades

These are the best-known of the 48 waterfalls in Mt. Inunaki.

Ryokai Falls, To Falls, Benten Falls, Nunobiki Falls, Kotsuki Falls, Gyoja Falls, Senju Falls

Gyoja Falls

Gyoja Falls in the grounds of Shipporyuji temple is famed as a waterfall with mystical powers, so it is always busy with people who come from all over the country throughout the year to undergo purification rituals here. A lot of women also come here to train. As women are permitted to under Shugendo training at Mt. Inunaki, the area is also known as Nyonin Omine, Women's Omine, in contrast to Mt. Omine where women are banned.

These falls have been used for training by some of the most famous people in the history of Japanese Buddhism, including En-no-Gyoja, Kobo Daishi, and Ichigen, an early priest of this temple.

Shipporyuji temple also offers one-day courses in Shugendo training, allowing laypersons to experience waterfall training. (Reservations required) https://inunakisan.jp/gyouja?tab=2

The Tears of Shizu

Another name for Shipporyuji temple is Haku’un-in, Hall of the White Clouds. Behind this name is the sad tale of a young maiden.

Long ago, there was a mountain ascetic named Kohijiri, from Awaji Island. During his frequent visits to the imperial palace, Shizu, a beautiful maid at the court became infatuated with him. Kohijiri shook off Shizu’s attentions because they would distract him from his Shugendo training, and fled to Mt. Inunaki.

But Shizu was not willing to give up. She searched for him in province after province, and finally heard a rumor that Kohijiri was training in the mountains of Inunaki, in the province of Izumi. So she made her way there in the hopes of being reunited with him.

However, between the treacherous ravine path, hunger and cold, and the white mist that suddenly enveloped the valley, she lost her way, finally dying a wretched death at the side of the road. The villagers found her body, and buried it carefully.

Ever since, white clouds rising over Mt. Inunaki means it will, without fail, rain, so the villagers call this “the tears of Shizu.” The fresh, pure spring that gushes forth from the mountainside where she collapsed is also known as “Shizu's Tears.”

Her grave is beside the path to the temple, about 100 m below the Main Hall, and even today pure spring water falls here like tears.

It is said that if you take this water home with you, and drink it every day, then your most sincere desire will be granted.

Nearby stands the hall housing the Shizu Jizo statue, which is worshipped as a Jizo of granting one's sole request.