What is Negoroji, and why does it matter?

Negoroji is a Shingi Shingon Buddhist temple founded in 1132, and for centuries its grounds housed the Negoro-shu — an order of warrior-monks who ran their own arquebus-manufacturing operation and fielded one of the most feared private armies in 16th-century Japan. The complex was burned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi's forces in 1585, but its Daito (Great Pagoda) survived — today it is a National Treasure and the largest wooden tahoto-style pagoda in Japan, with musket-ball scarring still visible on its beams. The grounds are also planted with roughly 7,000 cherry trees and are officially listed among Japan's "100 Sakura Spots."

Is Negoroji actually one of the "100 Sakura Spots"?

Yes — Negoroji is officially recognized by the Japan Cherry Blossom Association as one of the country's 100 Sakura Spots (日本さくら名所100選), largely for the roughly 7,000 cherry trees planted throughout its grounds, which bloom around the Daito pagoda in early April.

Wakayama · Japan

Negoroji

Once the fortified headquarters of a private army of warrior-monks, today Negoroji is a quiet temple complex known for Japan's largest wooden pagoda and roughly 7,000 cherry trees — one of the Japan Cherry Blossom Association's official "100 Sakura Spots."

ttshr1970 · CC BY 3.0

From private army to National Treasure

At its height in the late 1500s, Negoroji was less a temple than a fortified town — home to thousands of monks, some of whom trained as gunners using firearms the community manufactured itself. That military power made the temple a target: Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 1585 campaign destroyed most of the complex, and only a handful of structures, including the Daito, survived.

The Daito took root in 1547 and stands roughly 40 meters tall — the largest wooden pagoda of its type anywhere in Japan. Its scale and survival through that period of destruction are part of why it holds National Treasure status today.

Where to stay nearby

Negoroji has no lodging of its own — Wakayama City, about 30–40 minutes away by bus or car, is the practical base.

Wakayama City hotels convenient for Negoroji
Hotel	From (per night)	What makes it different	Book
Hotel Granvia Wakayama	$55	Directly connected to JR Wakayama Station — a practical base for combining Negoroji with Kimiidera or the castle.	Booking.com →
Daiwa Roynet Hotel Wakayama	$53	A reliable mid-range business hotel a short walk from the station.	Booking.com →
Candeo Hotels Nankai Wakayama	$77	Higher-end option near Wakayamashi Station, on the Nankai line side of the city.	Booking.com →

Prices are per-night starting rates in USD, seen on listings shortly before publication.

Before you go

Unlike Kimiidera, Negoroji is not directly on a train line — buses from Wakayama City run infrequently, so it's worth checking the timetable before you go, or considering a taxi for the return leg.

There is no lodging at Negoroji itself; visitors typically stay in Wakayama City and treat this as a half-day trip, sometimes combined with Kimiidera on the same day.

Getting to Negoroji

From JR Wakayama Station, take a Wakayama Bus toward Negoro or Iwade — buses run infrequently, so check the current timetable before setting out. The ride takes roughly 40 minutes.

By car from Wakayama City, it's about 30 minutes via the Hanwa Expressway or local roads; there is on-site parking.

Primary sources

Last updated: 2026-09-14