Nikkōzan Yumoto Onsenji Temple 日光山 湯本温泉寺

Official explanation

This branch temple of Rinnōji is located at the source of the hot springs of Yumoto Onsen. The temple operates a bath with water from the hot springs that is open to the public by reservation.

The springs were discovered in 788 by Shōdō Shōnin (735–817). He built the original temple on one of the peaks of the mountain behind the current temple and enshrined a statue of Yakushi Nyorai (Buddha of Healing). Shōdō named the area Yakushi-yu, which means “warm waters of Yakushi.”

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During a typhoon in 1966, a huge boulder crashed down the mountainside and crushed the temple. The statue of Yakushi Nyorai miraculously survived and was found sitting on top of the boulder. The temple was rebuilt at its present location in 1973, and the statue of Yakushi Nyorai was enshrined on the central dais as the principal deity.

In front of the dais is an altar for the goma fire ritual. Next to the altar is a statue of Enmei Jizō (Long-Life Jizō), who helps believers to live a long and healthy life.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.