Visit HYOGO

This ancient temple of the Tendai School was built on top of Mt. Shosha, rising above Himeji City. As this is also a place of ascetic practice, like Mt. Hiei (a historically significant mountain on the border of Kyoto and Shiga prefectures), it is known as the Mount Hiei of the West. It was founded in 966 by Shoku-Shonin, a holy priest. It is well-known as the 27th temple of the 33-temple Saikoku Kannon Pilgrimage, and is visited by a large number of tourists and worshippers.

Head up the mountain on the Mt. Shosha Ropeway, and the first thing you’ll see is the Mani-den, a magnificent building with a stage-like structure. Built upon a precipitous cliff, it is reminiscent of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, and has an overwhelming presence. If you go inside, you’ll find a tranquil and solemn space with three sites of worship arranged in a U shape: the main Daiko-do, Jiki-do, and Jogyo-do.

The large temple grounds are dotted with nationally designated Important Cultural Properties and Cultural Properties designated by Hyogo Prefecture—you’ll need around an hour and a half or two hours to see all the highlights. Participate in a sutra-copying or zazen meditation experience and try vegetarian Buddhist shojin ryori cuisine; here, you can make the most of a precious experience to purify your mind and heart among history and nature.

This temple is also known as a location used in a number of movies, including the Last Samurai and Rurouni Kenshin. Why not spend a peaceful time in a space where history and nature intertwine?