The Origins of Ryuanji Temple
Founded by En no Gyoja
The origins of Ryuanji are traditionally traced to 658, although some accounts give the year as 650. According to tradition, the legendary mountain ascetic En no Gyoja built a small hall near Minoh Falls and enshrined an image of Benzaiten, the Buddhist deity associated with music, performing arts, wisdom, and prosperity.
The temple was originally called Minohji. Its sacred reputation gradually grew, and the Minoh mountains became an important destination for religious practitioners.
A Sacred Place in Japanese Literature
The spiritual atmosphere of Minoh was already well known by the Heian period. The area is mentioned in the Ryojin Hisho, a collection of popular songs traditionally compiled under the direction of Emperor Go-Shirakawa, where Minoh is described as a dwelling place of holy men.
This literary reference provides a glimpse into the long-standing reputation of Minoh as a sacred mountain landscape.
From Minohji to Ryuanji
According to temple tradition, when Emperor Go-Daigo was exiled to the Oki Islands, Prince Morinaga asked the temple to conduct prayers for his safe return. The temple is said to have subsequently received the name Ryuanji.
Over the centuries, prominent Buddhist figures including Kukai, Nichiren, and Rennyo are traditionally said to have practiced in the Minoh mountains. The temple continues its Shugendo traditions today, including Buddhist fire rituals known as Goma.
Historic Buildings
The Sanmon Gate
The Sanmon Gate was relocated from the Kyoto Imperial Palace in 1809, during the reign of Emperor Kokaku. Its relocation gives the entrance an unusual connection with the history of the imperial court in Kyoto.
The Benzaiten Main Hall
The main Benzaiten hall was built in 1656 by imperial order from Emperor Go-Mizunoo. The Benzaiten enshrined here is traditionally regarded as one of the Four Great Benzaiten in Japan.
Benzaiten is widely worshipped as a deity of music, performing arts, eloquence, and prosperity. The temple’s connection with Benzaiten has therefore also given Ryuanji a long association with artists and performers.
Houohkaku Pavilion
Houohkaku stands on the eastern side of the Minoh River along the Takimichi walking route. Built in 1917, the elegant structure adds an architectural highlight to the scenic valley and is especially attractive when viewed together with the surrounding forest.
A Temple of Performing Arts
The Connection with Kamigata Entertainment
Because Benzaiten is associated with music and the performing arts, Ryuanji has long been known as a temple of the performing arts.
Figures associated with Kamigata kabuki, including Chikamatsu Monzaemon and Sakata Tojuro, are known for having dedicated copies of the Daihannya-kyo, or Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, to the temple.
The temple continues to attract people connected with traditional and contemporary cultural arts, preserving a distinctive connection between religious faith and Japanese performance culture.
The Origins of Japan’s Lottery Tradition
Minoh Tomi
Ryuanji is regarded as the birthplace of Tomikuji, a form of lottery that is considered one of the origins of Japan’s modern lottery tradition. The temple’s Minoh Tomi is documented in historical sources dating back many centuries.
The Fuboku Waka-sho, an anthology of Japanese poetry compiled during the Kamakura period, contains a poem by Fujiwara no Kanetaka associated with Minoh Tomi. This has been used as evidence that the tradition existed approximately 950 years ago.
A Lottery with a Religious Purpose
Unlike modern lotteries, the traditional Minoh lottery did not simply award cash prizes. The winning participant received a special protective amulet known as a Daifuku Omamori, symbolizing great good fortune and divine protection.
In 1575, during the turbulent Sengoku period, the temple began holding gatherings known as Tomi-kai. The popularity of Minoh Tomi continued into the Edo period, when the famous illustrated guidebook Setsu Meisho Zue depicted the lively atmosphere surrounding the lottery.
The Forerunner of the Modern Lottery
During the Edo period, temples and shrines sometimes sold numbered tickets to raise money for repairs and other expenses. Matching numbered wooden pieces were then selected by drawing lots to determine the winners.
This system is regarded as one of the historical predecessors of Japan’s modern lottery. The traditional lottery at Ryuanji was temporarily discontinued during the early Meiji period, but a modified form known as the Maninkoji Lottery continued for a time.
In 2009, Ryuanji revived the tradition in a form that returns to its historical character, with protective amulets rather than money serving as the prize.
The Temple Buildings and Sacred Sites
Benzaiten Hall
The main Benzaiten Hall, built with support from Emperor Go-Mizunoo, consists of an inner sanctuary and a worship hall arranged in a shrine-like style. The principal image is Benzaiten, accompanied by images of Bishamonten and Daikokuten.
Gyojado Hall
The Gyojado, also known as the Founder’s Hall, has an inner sanctuary and worship hall similar to the Benzaiten Hall. It enshrines En no Gyoja as its principal figure, with Fudo Myoo and Zao Gongen as accompanying deities.
The building reflects the temple’s strong connection with Shugendo and the traditions of mountain asceticism that have shaped Minoh for centuries.
Kannon Hall
The Kannon Hall was rebuilt in 2002. At its center is a wooden seated statue of Nyoirin Kannon dating from the Heian period, which is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
Images of Amida Nyorai and Kukai are enshrined on either side, creating a sacred space that brings together several important traditions of Japanese Buddhism.
Annual Festivals and Religious Events
Founder’s Memorial Service
The Founder’s Memorial Service is held every year on April 15. The ceremony includes a large Shugendo fire ritual and a procession of yamabushi, the mountain ascetic practitioners traditionally associated with Shugendo.
Gyojado Ceremonies
On July 7 and November 7, ceremonies are held at the Gyojado. The program includes a sacred fire ritual and a procession of yamabushi, offering visitors an opportunity to witness living Shugendo traditions.
Benzaiten Autumn Festival and Minoh Tomi
On October 10, Ryuanji holds its major autumn event, the Benzaiten Autumn Festival and Minoh Tomi. Many visitors gather at the temple to participate in the traditional lottery ceremony and pray for good fortune.
Cultural Properties
National Important Cultural Property
The temple’s wooden seated statue of Nyoirin Kannon, dating from the Heian period, is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. It is an important example of Buddhist sculpture from this period.
Osaka Prefecture Cultural Property
The lottery box of Ryuanji Temple, dating from the Momoyama period, is designated as an Osaka Prefecture tangible folk cultural property. The box provides a rare material connection to the long history of Minoh Tomi.
Minoh City Cultural Properties
The temple also preserves several cultural properties designated by Minoh City, including the Ryuanji Temple Documents, which contain records from the medieval and early modern periods.
Another important treasure is the Konshi Kin-ginji Kosho Issaikyo, a Buddhist scripture copied in alternating gold and silver characters on dark blue paper during the late Heian period and considered part of the Chusonji Sutras.
The temple also preserves the Daihannya-kyo and its storage fittings, Buddhist scriptures dedicated during the middle Edo period and associated with figures such as Chikamatsu Monzaemon and Sakata Tojuro.
Visiting Ryuanji Temple
Ryuanji Temple is located at 2-23 Minoh Park, Minoh City, Osaka Prefecture. From Minoh Station on the Hankyu Minoh Line, it takes approximately 15 minutes on foot to reach the temple.
The walk from the station follows the scenic route into the Minoh valley, making the journey itself part of the experience. Visitors can combine a visit to Ryuanji with a walk along the Takimichi Trail toward Minoh Falls and explore the natural scenery of Meiji no Mori Minoh Quasi-National Park.
A Unique Meeting Place of Faith, Culture, and History
Ryuanji Temple is one of Minoh’s most distinctive historic sites. Its more than 1,300-year tradition connects the sacred mountains of Minoh with Shugendo, Benzaiten worship, Japanese performing arts, and the history of lotteries.
For international travelers, the temple offers a fascinating opportunity to discover aspects of Japanese culture that are difficult to encounter in a conventional sightseeing district. A visit combines the atmosphere of an ancient mountain sanctuary with historic architecture, valuable Buddhist artworks, traditional festivals, and the remarkable story of Minoh Tomi, an early form of Japan’s lottery tradition.