Saikoji Temple

Saikoji is the oldest temple in Taketa and served as the ancestral temple of the Nakagawa clan, who governed the area throughout the Edo period. The family originally came from Hyogo Prefecture and brought the temple with them when they relocated to Taketa on orders from Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the late 16th century. The current main building includes small second-floor windows that doubled as arrow and gun ports, a visible reminder of the temple's role in an era of regular conflict. The gate and bell tower are original late-17th-century structures. The main building is not open to the public, but the grounds and exterior can be explored freely.