Shoshazan Engyoji Temple is a historical Buddhist temple in the mountains of Himeji City, and it is counted as one of the 33 temples of the Kannon Pilgrimage Route of the Kansai region. To reach the temple’s entrance, visitors can choose to hike up the mountain or take a ropeway. The temple buildings are spread out over a considerable area on the mountain, so it can take some time to explore the entire complex. One particular highlight is the beautiful wooden Maiden Hall, which is about a 20- to 30-minute walk from the ropeway station. Due to the scenic location and atmospheric historical buildings the temple and the mountain it lies on have been used as filming locations for various movies, including Hollywood blockbuster The Last Samurai.


Photographs provided by Himeji City.