Saidai-ji

西大寺

This is the location of the famous Naked Man Festival (see "Do" section). The priest Yasutaka founded this temple. It is said that while meditating in Hasedera Temple, an oracle came to him instructing him to repair the Kannon Hall in Bizen Kanaoka. He immediately departed for the West. On his way, he met a dragon deity carrying a rhinoceros horn who told him to build the temple and then vanished. The priest did as he was told and called it Saidaiji (犀戴寺) "rhino temple", but the characters were later changed by retired Emperor Gotoba to its current spelling (西大寺) after prayer-writing revealed to him the new name.

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Address

3-8-8 Saidaijinaka

Getting there

10-min walk from Saidaiji Station

Hours

Closed · opens 9 am

Weekly hours

Mon	9 am–4 pm
Tue	9 am–4 pm
Wed	9 am–4 pm
Thu	9 am–4 pm
Fri	9 am–4 pm
Sat	9 am–4 pm
Sun	9 am–4 pm

Price

Free

Website

saidaiji.jp (opens in a new tab)