The temple stands on the side of Mt. Nariai (569m), a location that provides a panoramic view of Amanohashidate, but at the time of its founding was located even higher up the mountain and was a training seminary for shugendo (Japanese mountaineering asceticism).
寺は天橋立を一望する成相山（569m）の山腹にあるが、創建時は山のさらに上方に位置し、修験の道場となっていた。