Daisenji Amidado, an Old Hall Quiet in the Forest of Mount Daisen

Mount Daisen is a famous peak of Tottori. Within the precinct of Daisenji, opened on its slope, an old hall called Amidado stands quietly. Set in the forest a little apart from the busy area around the main hall, it is a calm hidden spot where visitors are few.

This Amida hall is a precious building said to be the oldest surviving structure at Daisenji. Its origins reach back to the Heian era. It once collapsed in a landslide, but it was rebuilt on its present site in 1552. It is designated a national important cultural property, and the wooden Amida triad enshrined inside is also so valued in the history of sculpture that it was designated a national important cultural property in 1903. Standing before the old hall wrapped in forest, you quietly sense the depth of prayer handed down across long years.

Highlights

• A hall said to be the oldest at Daisenji, rebuilt in the late Muromachi era
• A wooden Amida triad, Amida Nyorai flanked by the bodhisattvas Kannon and Seishi
• High status, with both building and images as national important cultural properties
• A quiet presence wrapped in forest

Enjoying the Seasons

In spring the fresh green around it softly wraps the hall, filling the air with freshness. In summer the shade brings coolness and the quiet of the forest is pleasant. In autumn the old hall stands out against the crimson of the whole Daisen area, wrapped in a moist charm. In winter snow may close the way, but the solemnity stands out in the silence. The autumn foliage of Daisen is usually at its best from late October into early November, when the approach to Daisenji grows even more atmospheric.

Access and Basic Information

• Located in Daisen, Tottori, within the precinct of Daisenji
• About 20 minutes by car from the Yonago interchange on the Yonago expressway
• Reached by walking a forest path from the area around the main hall
• To view the interior closely, advance application and an admission fee are required
• Easy to tour together with Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya

Practical Travel Notes

• The best times are the fresh green of May and June and the autumn leaves from late October into early November
• Allow about half a day to include the Daisenji approach and Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya
• On weekends and at the peak of the foliage the car parks near the approach fill up, so early morning is more comfortable
• If you wish to view the interior of the hall, it is best to contact the Daisenji temple office in advance
• Nearby you will find the long stone paved approach of Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya, trailheads for climbing Daisen, and shops serving the local specialty Daisen soba
• As a budget guide, viewing only the exterior is free; if you wish to enter the hall an admission fee applies

A Quick Tip

If you visit Daisenji or Ogamiyama Shrine Okumiya, this is an old hall worth going the extra distance for. The forest path away from the busy main hall settles the heart all on its own. As you walk a forest trail, set out in comfortable shoes. The elevation is high and mornings and evenings are cool even in summer, so a layer to put on is reassuring.

📚 Sources

This article draws on sightseeing information published by Daisen Town and its tourism association, along with cultural-property materials and tradition about the Daisenji Amida Hall. On-site guidance in the precincts and approach was also consulted. Visiting hours and the state of the approach may change, so please confirm official information before your visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: Allow about 30 minutes to an hour for the stroll to the Amida Hall and the visit.
• Preparation: Non-slip shoes help on the forest path.
• Getting around: Quietly visit the old hall standing in the forest a little apart from the Daisenji precincts.
• Calm atmosphere: A hidden spot away from the bustle of the main hall, it suits a quiet visit.
• Note: Watch your footing on the forest path and time your visit to the weather.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Viewing the interior of the hall: From April to November, the 18th of every month is the day the image is unveiled, from 10:00 to 15:00, with an offering of 500 yen per person. It may be cancelled or shortened depending on the weather. The 2025 fiscal year ended with November 18, and it is scheduled to resume from April 18 the following fiscal year
• Outside the unveiling days: The exterior of the hall can be viewed freely. If you wish to see the interior on a day other than an unveiling day, an advance reservation with Daisenji Temple is required
• Visiting the main hall of Daisenji Temple: April 1 to November 30, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (subject to seasonal change). The visitor's offering is 300 yen for adults and 200 yen for children, and includes admission to the Reihokaku treasure hall. Reihokaku is closed from December 1 to March 31
• Access (by car): About 15 minutes from the Yonago Interchange on the Yonago Expressway via Prefectural Route 24 to the Bakuroza parking lot. From there it is about a 15-minute walk along the Daisen summer climbing trail
• Access (by bus): About 50 minutes from JR Yonago Station on the local bus bound for Daisenji, getting off at the Daisenji bus stop. From there it is about a 15-minute walk
• Parking: The prefectural Daisen Bakuroza parking lot has 600 spaces and is open all year round. It is paid during the ski season and free of charge at other times
• Time needed: About 1 hour for the round trip from Bakuroza to Amidado. If you also walk to the main hall of Daisenji Temple and Ogamiyama Jinja Okumiya, allow half a day to be safe
• In wet weather: You can still view the exterior of the hall in the rain, but there is almost nowhere with a roof to shelter. The climbing trail and the stone paving become slippery when wet
• Footwear and clothing: You walk for about 15 minutes from the approach onto the climbing trail. Non-slip shoes are essential. The elevation is high and mornings and evenings are cool even in summer, so something to layer over your clothes is reassuring
• Strollers and wheelchairs: Because the route goes along a climbing trail and stone steps, it is not suited to visiting with a stroller or wheelchair
• To avoid the crowds: On weekends in the autumn foliage season the parking lots around the approach get busy. Early morning is the most comfortable time. On the 18th, the unveiling day, people gather in front of the hall
• Budget guide: Free if you only view the exterior. Even adding the 500 yen for viewing the interior on an unveiling day and the 300 yen offering at the main hall of Daisenji Temple, it comes to less than 1,000 yen
• Location: Oaza Daisen, Daisen-cho, Saihaku-gun, Tottori Prefecture
• Inquiries: Daisenji Temple, 0859-52-2158

Information Sources

The structural form of Amidado (five bays across the front, five bays deep, single-storied, hipped roof, with a one-bay worship porch and shingled roof), the fact that its construction in Tenbun 21 (1552) is known from an inscribed plaque, the fact that the worship porch was added in a later period, and the date of its designation as an Important Cultural Property (February 18, 1904) were confirmed in the entry in the Cultural Heritage Online database of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. The collapse caused by the landslide of Kyoroku 2 (1529), the unveiling days at Amidado and the need for an advance reservation to view it, and the access and walking times from the Yonago Interchange and JR Yonago Station come from the facility information in the tourist guide of the Daisen Tourist Bureau. The unveiling days (the 18th of each month, 10:00 to 15:00) and the 500 yen offering, the closing date for the 2025 fiscal year and the scheduled resumption the following fiscal year, the fact that the principal image, the Amida triad, was created in Tensho 1 (1131) by the great Buddhist sculptor Ryoen, and the visiting hours, visitor's offering and closed period of Reihokaku at Daisenji Temple were confirmed in the guidance on the official website of Daisenji Temple. The capacity of the prefectural Daisen Bakuroza parking lot and the fact that it is open all year round are based on the parking information on the official website of Tottori Prefecture. Visiting times and fees are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.