Dojoji Temple (道成寺)

Flow of the course

About this spot

Said to have been founded in 701, this is Wakayama Prefecture's oldest temple, known nationwide as the setting for the legend of Anchin and Kiyohime. Pass through the Niomon Gate to find spacious temple grounds, with Important Cultural Property Buddhist statues enshrined in the main hall. In the treasure hall housing illustrated legend scrolls and other treasures, you can view up close the scroll depicting the scene where Kiyohime transforms into a giant serpent and coils around the temple bell. Surrounded by trees, the grounds stay cool even in summer, making this a perfect place to spend a quiet moment before the fireworks. Touring the sub-temples and the temple bell along the approach path deepens your sense of the legend's world.

Tips

Take the train from Kishu Railway Gobo Station (紀州鉄道御坊駅) to Dojoji Station, then walk about 3 minutes. Admission is 500 yen for adults (check separately whether this includes the treasure hall). Some areas of the grounds are free to enter. Even on the day of the fireworks festival, there are few tourists during the day, so you can explore at a relaxed pace.

Best time to visit

About 1 hour 15 minutes. Afternoon sunlight filtering through the trees onto the grounds makes for great photos

Access & map

〒649-1331 Kanemaki, Hidakagawa-cho, Hidaka-gun, Wakayama (和歌山県日高郡日高川町鐘巻) １７３８