Ominesanji Temple located in Tenkawa-mura, Yoshino-gun, Nara Pref. is a temple of Shugendo. The principal objects of worship are the statues of Zao Gongen and En no Gyoja. It is a part of the World Heritage Site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.”Ominesan is a mountain with an altitude of 1719 m above sea level. It is also the origin of all the mountains named “Ominesan” in the country. Ominesanji Temple is at the top of Sanjogatake, which is the main peak of Mt. Ominesan. It is the wooden structure that stands at the highest place in Japan. It is said that the temple was founded by En no Gyoja, the founder of Shugendo, at the end of 7th century, when he perceived Zao Gongen at last after a long ascetic practice and chiseled a statue to place as the principal image.
The temple is known for being barred to women. Climbers are allowed to enter the mountain only from the door opening ceremony on May 3rd to the door closing ceremony on September 23rd, during which a lot of male pilgrims climb the mountain to perform the ascetic practices. The main hall was destroyed by fire in a battle with the Ikko sect during the Warring States period (1493-1573). Later in 1691, the present main hall was built again. Ominesanji Temple is a historic temple that keeps the traditions of rigorous training and “off limits to women” for 1,300 years.