Iwayaji Temple

Iwayaji dates back to the Nara Period (719-794 CE).

The main object of worship here is a statue of Acala, a Wisdom King which is an angry faced Buddhist deity.

At the Temple, you can find one of the oldest illustrations in the Tango region, “The 16 Deities of the Buddha”, as well as over 400 year old picture scrolls depecting the famous Legends of Expelling Demons in Mount Oe.

The latter works are usually hidden from public view, but once a year, on August 18th, they are displayed to the public.