⛩️ Shakuyō-ji Temple

Shosha San Enkyoji is a Tendai sect temple located on Mount Shosha, which stands at an elevation of 371 meters in the northern part of Himeji City. It is said to have been built in 966 by the monk Shinkō. The mountain features several impressive halls, earning it the nickname "the Hiei Mountain of the West," and has been widely revered by the public since ancient times. It is the 27th temple of the 33 Kannon pilgrimage sites in the western region. Shosha San Enkyoji was also a filming location for the Hollywood movie "The Last Samurai," released in 2003, and has served as a backdrop for multiple films and television dramas. Visitors can easily reach the summit by taking a cable car from the bus station at the foot of the mountain. A leisurely 20-minute walk from the top leads to the heart of the temple complex, where the main deity, the six-armed Kannon statue, is enshrined in the Mani Hall. The Mani Hall was rebuilt in 1933 by architect Takeda Goichi after the original Ryuikido Hall was destroyed by fire. It features a magnificent structure similar to that of Kiyomizu-dera, with a stage (suspended structure). Additionally, there are three halls at the back: the Great Lecture Hall, the Dining Hall, and the Jōgyō Hall. The Jōgyō Hall, designated as an Important Cultural Property, is arranged in a "コ" shape and serves as a symbolic location of Enkyoji.

Known as the "Western Hiei Mountain," it is a representative ancient temple in the Harima region. It gained fame as the filming location for the movie "The Last Samurai." It is the 27th temple in the Western 33 Kannon pilgrimage sites. The Mani Hall, designed by architect Takeda Goichi, features a stage-like structure that enshrines the statue of the Kannon with the wish-fulfilling wheel. The San-no-Dō, arranged in a "コ" shape, is filled with a solemn atmosphere.