Tennenji Temple

In Bungo-takada, Oita Prefecture, at the foot of rocky peaks where strange crags rise, stands Tennenji. Said to have been founded in 718 by the monk Ninmon, it is a central temple of the Rokugo Manzan on the Kunisaki Peninsula. Flourishing as a temple of mountain asceticism and prayer in the Heian and Kamakura periods, it is a sacred site where the culture of merged Shinto and Buddhism strongly remains.

What makes this temple especially well known is the fire festival called Shujo Onie, handed down for over a thousand years. In this rite, demons holding torches circle the grounds; it is a New Year tradition praying for good health and a bountiful harvest, and it is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.

Highlights

- Shujo Onie — A spirited fire festival held at the lunar New Year. The sight of monks dressed as demons brandishing torches is full of power. - Mumyo Bridge — A stone bridge spanning the rocky peaks behind the temple. Known as a site of mountain ascetic training, its landscape clinging to the cliff face is overwhelming. - Kawanaka Fudo — A cliff-carved image of the deity Fudo Myo-o on a huge rock in the river flowing before the temple. It is said to have been carved as a prayer against floods.

Enjoying the Seasons

The lunar New Year, usually in February, when the Shujo Onie fire festival is held, is the season when this temple is most filled with fervor. The usually quiet grounds fill with the heat of flames and prayer. The fresh greenery of spring and the red leaves of autumn also form beautiful contrasts with the rocky peaks, and throughout the four seasons the grounds are wrapped in the sacred air unique to the Rokugo Manzan.

Access and Basic Information

- Location: 1152 Nagaiwaya, Bungo-takada, Oita Prefecture - Access: About 30 minutes by car from JR Usa Station. About 50 minutes from Oita Airport. Public transport is infrequent, so a car is convenient. - Parking: Available - Visiting: Grounds open freely (Mumyo Bridge is a steep training site, so do not overexert yourself)

A Quick Tip

Kawanaka Fudo can be viewed from along the road, so first offer your prayers to that powerful cliff carving. The Mumyo Bridge spanning the rocky peaks behind the temple is a steep training site once walked by mountain ascetics. If you are unsure of your footing, do not push yourself; simply looking up at the scenery from the foot of the rock is enough to feel the air of this sacred place.