Seiryoji Temple, commonly known as Saga Shakado, has Shakyamuni as its principal deity. The standing statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in the main hall is a national treasure and came from India. This statue is usually kept secret and is only open to the public during special visits.
Seikaji Temple, the predecessor of Seiryoji Temple, is the model for “Saga no Godo” temple built by Hikaru Genji in the Tale of Genji.
The temple’s cultural assets, such as the Amida Sansonzo statue, a national treasure, are stored in the Reihokan. Also, they are not always open to the public.
The main hall was rebuilt at the request of Tsunayoshi Tokugawa, the fifth Shogun. The Niomon gate dates from the mid-Edo period, but the Niomon statues are said to be from the Muromachi period (1336-1573). The garden behind the main hall is also beautiful.
In a corner of Seiryoji Temple is the Toyotomi Hideyori Head Mound, where a skull discovered during excavation of Osaka Castle in 1980 was said to be that of Toyotomi Hideyori and buried here.
Nearby spots from Seiryoji Temple
Daikakuji Temple is about 10-minute walk.
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