✨Himeji’s other Treasure: Mount Shosha and Engyoji Temple✨
(article by staff Charlotte ：）
Located north of the city on Mount Shosha is the Engyoji Buddhist temple complex. Founded in 966, it belongs to the Tendai school and is the 27th of the 33 temples Saigoku pilgrimage dedicated to the goddess of compassion, Kannon Bodhisattva.
To reach the temple, you can take a bus to “Mt. Shosha Ropeway” from Himeji station or from the stop “Himeji-Jo Otemon-mae” in front of the castle to get to the ropeway.
🥾For the more adventurous, it’s also possible to hike up, but be prepared for some elevation and a technical ascent. In this case, head to the “Shosha Higashisaka” road to find the path entrance.
The complex consists of more than 20 buildings, which you will reach by walking through 33 statues, all of them representations of the Kannon Bodhisattva 🪷
🌳🎋The atmosphere of the temple, set in nature, is peaceful and relaxing. It’s a half-day trip that is truly worth the visit for anyone who enjoys nature, temples, architecture, or cinema, as the location has been used as a filming site for movies and series (the most famous being The Last Samurai).
The site has a rest area, several viewpoints over the city, a snack bar, multiple toilets, and a drink vending machine. In the Jikido hall, you can copy sutras.
ℹ️ For more information, visit the temple’s website: http://www.shosha.or.jp/_en/