Mitaki-dera Temple

History and Divine Virtue

Set on the slopes of Mount Mitaki in Nishi Ward, Hiroshima, Mitaki-dera is a temple of the Koyasan Shingon school said to have been founded by Kukai in 809. Three waterfalls — Bon'on, Yumei, and Komagataki — flow through its grounds and give the temple its name; since the atomic bombing, water for the offering at Hiroshima's annual Peace Memorial Ceremony has been drawn here. The vermilion two-storied pagoda on the approach was relocated in 1951 from Hiro Hachiman Shrine in Wakayama Prefecture as a memorial to the victims of the bomb, and is designated a Hiroshima Prefectural Important Cultural Property. Though close to the city center, the grounds are wrapped in cedar groves and mountain streams, celebrated for fresh green in spring and autumn foliage, and welcome pilgrims as a station of the Chugoku Thirty-Three Kannon pilgrimage.

Visiting Notes

• Three waterfalls flow through the grounds; their water is also offered at the Peace Memorial Ceremony.
• The vermilion pagoda was brought from Kishu as a memorial to atomic bomb victims and is a prefectural cultural property.
• In autumn the temple is among the finest foliage spots in Hiroshima. There are many stone steps, so wear comfortable shoes.
• After praying before the Sho Kannon in the main hall, walk the grounds slowly to the sound of the falls.

Deities and Location

Enshrined Deities

Shō Kanzeon Bosatsu (principal image)

Location

広島県広島市西区三滝山 (undefined)

Access

About 20 minutes on foot from Mitaki Station on the JR Kabe Line.

Lineage

Dragon & Water Deities, Purification & Renewal

Visiting hours, goshuin (shrine stamps), and festival dates change; please confirm the latest information through each shrine's official announcements. If you find an error in this entry, we would be grateful if you let us know.