What other travelers are saying about Nageire-dou Temple (Okuin Nageiredou)
Stunning place. The complex itself is nestled in the forest and beautiful, but we arrived in late afternoon and had to speed through in order to do the hike. They will inspect your clothes and shoes to ensure safety, and sell socks and traditional sandals if your footwear is deemed unfit (inexpensive at 900 JPY). The monk we interacted with was very friendly. The hike itself is pretty fun and can be a little nerve-wracking as you have to use chains at parts to pull yourself up and then rappel down, but if you're an experienced hiker you should be fine. I've done sketchier hikes in Washington state. Trust the chains!
Very very fun hike. The people there are lovely and the views were beautiful.
The hike itself is not difficult if you are in good physical shape. However, when going down, you do need to be a little more careful as some branches and slopes could be slippery depending on the weather. Mountaineering shoes are also required, if you do not have any, you have to buy straw sandals at the start before going on the hike. Also, you may want to bring some gloves if you're worried about scratches or blisters. There are many parts of the hike where you will need to pull yourself up,.
There are a couple of sights to see along the way, but nothing compares to when you finally turn around the bend and see Nageiredo itself. Absolutely amazing experience, 10/10 would do it again :)
WARNING: The hike up is a bit tough and requires climbing up rocky walls with chains. Physically disabled or very unfit or clumsy people should think twice about coming out here!
That said, it's a nice day trip out into nature. The hike takes about an hour up depending on traffic (people), and 30 min coming down. You have to pay 400 yen to enter the temple grounds at the base of the mountain, and another 400 yen to enter the hiking trail. Optionally, you can rent traditional weaved hay sandals. They'll hurt to walk on, though. There are a few small temple huts along the way up. 2 are in the open and a third is in the cliff face. Lastly, the real Nageiredo is also built into the cliff. You can't actually go up to the main temple as it's too dangerous and blocked off. I can't imagine how difficult it was to build this temple...
The best hike I've had. Though it was busy during golden week, still a wonderful experience. They check your shoes, and if you don't have shoes with proper grip they ask you to buy a pair of bamboo sandals. We thought they were being too cautious, and doubted the effectiveness of the mideaval sandals, but they were great and very necessary, so please buy them. Also, we mistakenly bought them too early at the wrong place. It's best to buy them at the gate you show the tickets and enter, not on the way there after you bought the initial tickets & get your shoes checked.
The hike is really fun, despite being quite hard, and the views are beautiful. Definitely a must-do in tottori, heck in Japan.
Having climbed up to get here you really wonder how people managed to build a temple on a side of a cliff all the way near the top of a mountain.
There are spectacular views on the way up and the goal really isn’t this temple at the end but the climb up to here.
And it is literally a climb there’s ropes and chains to help you get up on some parts of the route and sometimes you even need to use tree roots to climb.
It’s not extremely hard but you do need a certain level of fitness and stamina to get to the top.
Some parts are pretty dangerous as well as there’s sheer drops on both sides of a stone walkway that you need to be extremely careful of.
Nageire-do Temple is accessed via a challenging 1-hour mountain hike from Sanbutsu-ji Temple in Misasa, Tottori Prefecture. The trail requires sturdy hiking boots, involves steep climbs, chain-assisted sections, and root-rope climbing. Visitors must register at the main temple office and follow safety guidelines for this demanding mountain pilgrimage route.
Nageire-do Temple is famous for being precariously built into a cliff face 520 meters above sea level without using a single nail. This National Treasure wooden hall appears to be 'thrown' into the rock face, hence its name meaning 'thrown-in hall.' The 1,300-year-old structure showcases incredible Japanese engineering and is considered one of Japan's most dangerous temples to visit.
Nageire-do Temple can be visited from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (last entry), with seasonal variations. The admission fee is 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children, paid at Sanbutsu-ji Temple base. Special climbing permits and insurance may be required. The temple may close during bad weather, winter months, or maintenance periods, so check current conditions before visiting.
Essential gear for Nageire-do Temple includes proper hiking boots (sandals prohibited), comfortable climbing clothes, gloves for chain sections, water, and emergency supplies. The temple requires appropriate attire covering shoulders and knees. Bring a camera with strap, first aid kit, and headlamp if visiting late. The challenging terrain demands proper preparation and physical fitness.
Nageire-do Temple hiking involves inherent risks due to steep cliffs, exposed sections, and challenging terrain. Visitors must be physically fit, follow safety instructions, and hike in groups. Children under 12 and elderly visitors may face restrictions. Weather conditions, seasonal closures, and mandatory safety briefings are enforced. Several accidents have occurred, making this one of Japan's most dangerous temple visits.
