Tokoji Temple

Tokoji Temple sits beside the hot spring river in Yunomine Onsen, one of Japan's oldest onsen villages along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route. Inside, a seated statue of Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of healing, reflects the longstanding connection between this sacred site and the curative waters outside. The temple is small and intimate, with moss-covered stone steps and the constant sound of the river running past. The springs here are said to have been discovered over 1,800 years ago. After visiting, walk a few steps to Tsuboyu, the tiny bathing hut recognized as the world's only hot spring that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.