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A symbol of the Japanese spirit and culture for more than 1200 years,

Saijo Inari Temple continues to attract peoplefrom all over the country even today.

　Known as the se t t ing fo r Japan ’ s mos t f amous fo lk ta le , “The Legend o f Momota ro , ” K ib i P l a in f ea tu re s a number o f bu r i a l mounds c rea te d more than 1500 yea r s ea r l i e r. Sa i j o I na r i and i t s eno rmous O - t o r i i ( t he ga t e a t t h e t e m p l e ' s e n t r a n c e ） s t a n d i n g 2 7 m e t e r s t a l l , s i t u a t e d o n t h e moun ta in s i de ove r l ook ing the p l a in , offe r s one o f t he mos t eye - ca t ch ing scenes found in th is lush countrys ide.

　The offic ia l name o f the t emp le i s “Sa i j o Ina r i - s an Myokyo - j i . ” Because t o r i i a r e s ymbo l s o f sh r ine s , t he t o r i i a t Sa i j o I na r i make s th i s t emp le a rare example o f the re l ig ions o f anc ient Japan. Every year about 3 mi l l ion p e o p l e v i s i t t h i s t em p l e , w h e r e “ S a i j o i Ky o - o D a i b o s a t s u , ” b e l i e v e d responsible for prosper i ty in bus iness and good harvests , i s wo rshipped.

　Sa i jo Inar i , boas t ing a h i s to ry s t re tch ing back more than 1200 years, is an Inari temple devoted to protecting the Lotus Sutra and the teachings of Buddhism.　It is known as one of three major Inar i in Japan along with Fushimi-Inari Taisha Shrine and Toyokawa Inari Temple.　Legend has i t that the wel l - t ra ined pr ies t Ho -on Da i sh i had a v i s i on o f Sa i j o i Kyo -o Da ibosa t su (known affec t iona te ly as “Sa i jo S ama” ) , t h e p r i n c i pa l image , and became enl ightened in 752 while worshipping at the stone outcropping known as Hachijoiwa. After this vision, Ho-on Daishi built a temple near the site in 785 and named it "Ryuozan Jinguji." Af ter flour ish ing for hundreds of years as a v e n e r a b l e t e m p l e , t h e b u i l d i n g s w e r e unfortunately lost due to damage sustained during the civil war in the late 16thcentury.

　However, the temple was rebuilt in 1601 by the priest Nichien Shonin, who was visit ing from the Kanto region (near modern-day Tokyo), and the temple was renamed “Sai jo Inar i - san Myokyoj i .” S ince then, the temple has been revered by many people as “Saijo Sama, bringer of mysterious divine favor.”

　Within the temple grounds stand the former main hall, Kyu-Honden, and the historic wooden building known as Konpon-daido(memorial service hall ) . In addition, during hatsumode (the new year's first temple visit to pray for luck), large numbers of people visit the temple to pray for peace and happiness in the coming year.

）elpmeT ijoykoyM nas-iranI ojiaS（ iranI ojiaS

One of the symbols of Saijo Inari Temple, this torii s tands 27 .5 meters ta l l w i th p i l l a rs boast ing diameters of 4.6 meters and weighs 2,800 tonnes all together, making it one of Japan’s largest. In 2014, the torii was repainted in the traditional red ocher color pigment (Bengara) used since ancient times. The parking at the base of the torii allows visitors to take a taxi right up to the torii for a closer look.

Invoking the style of Japanese gardens from 500 years ago, this garden is characterized by its excit ing arrangement of stones. The garden’s sacred stone stands highest in the garden against a backdrop of pine trees. The withered waterfall in front of this stone is said to flow with the mercy of the Bosatsu and nourish the pond below, which serves as a gathering place.

Built in the architectural style of India, this stone gate is a rare specimen and has been specified a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. The powerful golden images enshr ined w i th in the gate a re known as the “N io . ” Renovated in 2013, the bright white of the new stone gate offers a str ik ing contrast to the golden images within, welcoming visitors in spectacular fashion.

Among the four wooden buildings that comprise Kyu-Honden, the innermost building is the oldest, having been built in 1741. The building's hiwada buki (cypress bark thatched roofing) and the delicately sculpted pillars are just two examples of tradit ional aspects found in the wooden structures of Japan. Within Kyu-Honden, the thirty guardian deities known as “Sanjubanshin” are worshipped.

Visited annually by some 3 mil l ion worshippers and vis i tors , Honden(Main Hal l ) stands as the t emp l e ’ s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e b u i l d i n g . A l a r g e Sh imenawa 12 meters long and we igh ing 1 .5 tonnes, made from dried rice-stalk “straw,” hangs on the front of the ha l l . The vo ices of pr iest chanting can sometimes be heard coming from within this huge, solemn building, fil l ing the air with an aura of sacredness.

Inside the Temple

O-Torii Gate(Great Gate)

Kansho-tei Garden(Temple Garden) Niomon Gate

）llaH niaM remroF（ nednoH-uyK

Honden (Main Hall)

＊"Sanjuban shin" is a synchronism of Shinto and Buddhism, with 30 deities taking turns every day guarding the nation and the people.

Saijo Inari（Saijo Inari-san Myokyo-ji Temple）

）dnuor-raey nepO（ ecnattimda ruoh-42 *Reception desk and shop: 9:00am - 4:30pm

Kansho-tei Garden(Temple Garden): Hours: 9:30am - 3:00pm

Admission: General 300 yen; students and groups 200 yen; elementary schoolstudents and younger free

Free　Admission:

Hours:

Access to Saijo Inari

*Admission is free with the exception iet-ohsnaK sa hcus（

seitilicaf emos fo Garden（Temple Garden））.

712 Takamatsuinari, Kita Ward, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture 701-1331Tel: 086-287-3700 / Fax: 086-287-3709

Temple Map

Hachijoiwa(Sacred Stones)

En no Massha(Two deities who quit a bad thing and join good relation together.)

Sekicho （Stone Carving）

Honden (Main Hall)

Infomation

Fortune Shop “Yukari” (Souvenir shop)

General Information BoardNiomon Gate

Kansho-tei Garden(Temple Garden)

Konpon-daido (Memorial Service Hall)

Hideyoshi Honjin Ichi-no-maru (observation platform), Nichiren Shonin Statue (Nichiren who spread the teaching of the Lotus Sutra is a founder of Nichiren sect of Buddhism)

Monzenmachi （Approach）

Ho-on Daishi Gobyo （Mausoleum）

Kyu-Honden (Former Main Hall)

Shichijushichi massha(77 deities who each take a specialized role)

FREEWi-FiFREEWi-Fi

Access to Saijo Inari

Access

JR Okayama Sta.

JR Bitchu-Takamatsu Sta.

Kurashiki

Niimi

Okayama-Soja

Tsuyama

Sanyo Expressway

Okayama ExpresswayChugoku Expressway

JR Hakata Sta.JR Shin-Osaka Sta.

Kansai International Airport

Fukuoka Airport

Okayama Airport

Saijo Inari

By tra in By car

5 km from Okayama-Soja IC on the Okayama Expressway (10 minutes by car).Take Japan National Route 180 toward Okayama to reach the enormous torii.Parking for up to 5,000 vehicles is available in the surrounding area.Handicapped parking (five spaces) is available in the temple.

From Kansai International Airport:50 minutes to JR Shin-Osaka Sta. on conventional lines.50 minutes to JR Okayama Sta. on Shinkansen.20 minutes to JR Bitchu-Takamatsu Sta. on the Momotaro(Kibi) Line, and then 5 minutes by taxi.Or, 15 km (20 minutes by taxi) from Sports Park Gate(West Gate) of Okayama Sta.

From Fukuoka Airport:5 minutes from Fukuokakuko (Airport) Sta. to JR Hakata Sta. on the municipal subway Kuko Line.1 hour 50 minutes to JR Okayama Sta. on Shinkansen.20 minutes to JR Bitchu-Takamatsu Sta. on the Momotaro(Kibi) Line, and then 5 minutes by taxi.Or, 15 km (20 minutes by taxi)from Sports Park Gate(West Gate) of Okayama Sta.

From JR Okayama Sta.:20 minutes to JR Bitchu-Takamatsu Sta.on the Momotaro(Kibi) Line, and then 5 minutes by taxi.Or, 15 km (20 minutes by taxi) from Sports Park Gate(West Gate) of Okayama Sta.

By plane

8 km from Okayama Airport (10 minutes by taxi).

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