Keidaji Temple, located in Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, is known as the temple related to Oda Genegorou Nagamasu, the youngest brother of Oda Nobunaga. This Soto Zen temple, also known as Miwayama, continues to attract history enthusiasts and those interested in the Oda family.
The main gate of the temple was once used as the central gate of the Shiba Oda Domain, which had 10,000 koku. With the abolition of feudal domains in Meiji 4 (1871), this gate was relocated to Keidaji. This gate, which exudes historical significance, invites visitors to peep into the past.
Within the precincts of Keidaji Temple lies the grave of Oda Uraaku, Nobunaga's actual younger brother. Additionally, the gravestones of successive lords of the Shiba Oda Domain stand in rows, quietly narrating the glory and fall of the Oda family. These clusters of gravestones bear witness to the footprints of an important family in Japanese history.
Wrapped in a calm atmosphere, Keidaji Temple evokes a deep sense of nostalgia and reverence in visitors. Although photography is currently prohibited inside the main hall, this might stimulate your imagination and stoke a deeper curiosity about history.
Keidaji Temple is located at Shiba 753, Sakurai, Nara Prefecture, and can be reached via phone at 0744-42-6209. As a temple of high historical value, please observe proper manners and maintain quiet during your visit.
Keidaji Temple is a valuable historic site that silently conveys the history of the Oda family and the turbulent times from Japan's medieval to early modern period. Whether you are interested in history or just wish to spend a moment of tranquility, this is a highly recommended site. Be sure to visit and feel the passage of time.