TITLE: Daimon Guchi Nyonindo Hall Site
The Daimon Guchi Nyonindo Hall was originally located at the top of a steep road up the side of the holy mountain that connected Koyasan and the Nyonin Michi (Women’s Pilgrimage Route) with the Hashimoto area. The road intersected the Nyonin Michi between the summit of Mt. Benten and the Daimon, or Great Gate, that marks the entrance to the Danjo Garan Sacred Temple Complex. Because the road was extremely steep, and often difficult to travel, a second route was eventually constructed. The newer path intersected the Nyonin Michi closer to the Daimon, and contained more switchbacks, making the trail easier to ascend than the older, direct route. After construction of the second trail, the old path fell into disuse and was eventually closed. Today, both routes have been replaced by the paved modern road that enters Koyasan near the Daimon.
This stretch of the Nyonin Michi passed the closest to Koyasan’s sacred precincts, giving women and other travelers the best opportunity to glimpse the sacred buildings and hear the temple bells of Danjo Garan. The path also passes through several torii, traditional Shinto gates that mark the entrance to a sacred space. Historically, Shinto and Buddhism coexisted peacefully in Japan, with many important holy sites, including Koyasan, being recognized as sacred to both the Shinto and Buddhist faiths.
