Tamagawa 玉川たまがわ

Jewel-Spirit River

This river, now spanned by the Gobyō-bashi Bridge, marks the entrance to the most sacred area of Mt. Kōya. Its name can be rendered as either Jewel or Spirit River (the Japanese word "tama" being a homophone for both).

Thin wooden tablets called nagare-kanjō are sometimes placed in the river to the north of the bridge as memorials to unborn "water babies" and those who have died by drowning.

To the south, just past the Water-Splashing Jizō is a pool where ascetic practices can be performed.

The unique spots borne by the fish in the river are believed to have been caused by a miracle worked by the founder of Mt. Kōya. According to the myth, a man who had caught some of these fish was cooking them over a fire. When Kūkai saw the man, he admonished him, restored the fish to life and returned them to the river, where they continue to bear the marks of the fisherman's skewers.

View of Grave of Tamagawa River — View of the Tamagawa River

KoyaQuest

KoyaQuest

KoyaQuest

Tamagawa River

KoyaQuest

Tamagawa River

Tamagawa 玉川たまがわ

Jewel-Spirit River