Mount Shosha, home to Engyoji Temple, stands at an elevation of 371 meters. While you can hike up, the easiest way is to take the Shosha Ropeway from the base station to the summit. To reach the ropeway, take a "Shosha Ropeway" bus from Himeji Station—about a 30-minute ride—to the final stop.

Famous for its autumn foliage, the mountain transforms into a stunning display of red and yellow in November. The four-minute ropeway ride offers breathtaking views of Himeji City and the Seto Inland Sea, adding to the excitement. The ropeway fee is 600 yen one-way, or 1,000 yen round-trip.

Shoshazan Engyo-ji is a Tendai Buddhist temple and training dojo established by Shoku Shonin in 966. It is the 27th stop along the path of the 33 Sacred Temples of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage and is sometimes referred to as "Mount Hiei of the West."

Maniden is the powerful main shrine, built protruding from the mountains. st like the main halls of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, it is characterized by an architectural method called "butai-zukuri" (literally, "stage construction") used to construct buildings over lakes and cliffs in which long pillars support the floors underneath the building.

It is said that before building the temple, Shoku Shonin saw a heavenly being in the cherry trees, which led him to carve a statue of the goddess Kannon in the tree's roots. This set the foundation for butai-zukuri in the middle of Iwayama.

The way to Mitsu-no-Do, or the Three Halls, is a mountain path through the trees behind the Maniden, which gives off plenty of negative ions. You will also encounter a 700-year-old giant cedar tree towering towards the sky. This huge tree, standing at a height of 35m with a trunk width of 8.4m, seems to have a power of its very own.

Up the hill to the side of the giant cedar tree lie the three temples of Mitsu-no-Do, a famous filming spot for movies and dramas. The large temples sitting on the top of the mountain are a spectacular view.

The movie The Last Samurai brought the world of Shoshazan Engyo-ji into the spotlight. Many shots were filmed right around the three temples of Mitsu-no-Do. The scene where Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe exchanged greetings was filmed in Jogyodo, one of these three halls.

Daikodo, or the Great Lecture Hall, is the main hall Engyo-ji where a statue of the "shaka-sanzon" Buddha trinity is enshrined. It is a place where monks study and train. The building you see today was rebuilt in the mid-Muromachi period.

The Jikido (formerly a cafeteria for monks) was built on the request of Emperor Go-Shirakawa. The current building was also from the Muromachi Period and a place where the monks lived and studied.

On the first floor of Jikido, you can experience "shakyo" or sutra copying. On the second floor, you can see displays of Buddhist statues and other treasures of Engyo-ji.

The current Jogyodo building is from the Muromachi Period. This temple is dedicated to Amida Nyorai (Amitabha Buddha) and was a dojo where the monks practiced "jogyozanmai" (a meditation practice in which they walked around the main shrine chanting the name of Amida).

Further behind the Three Halls is Oku-no-In, or the inner sanctuary. This is where you will find Goho-do and Kaizan-do, the two small shrines where snow scenes were filmed. They say it took a whole week to prepare the snow they would use.

One of Shoku Shonin's disciples established it in 1007 to enshrine him after his death. To this day, the monks work every morning and evening to keep the Light of Buddhism alive.

Also, take note of the statue of Rikishi (an ancient Buddha guardian) supporting the roof. It was said to have been built by the artist Hidari Jingoro and is a masterpiece of the Edo Period. One famous legend states that the guardian sculpture under one of the four corners under the eaves ran away due to the crushing pressure of the weight.

You can experience zazen meditation for yourself at the Jogyodo. In this historic temple, you will sit in complete silence, legs crossed, and correct your posture. It is a memorable experience where you can leave behind your cares of the world for a moment of peace and detachment.

You can experience shakyo, or sutra copying, in the Jikido. Shakyo is an activity in which you copy sutra sentences by hand, which is said to help calm your mind and heal your heart.

You can choose from two courses: the authentic Hannya-shingyo course, or the more simple Hanabira-shakyo course. Although some of the kanji may be difficult, do not worry. You will be able to practice with a draft and can write the sentences one character at a time.

You can experience Shojin-ryori, a traditional Buddhist cuisine, at Juryoin Temple, which is situated along the path from Niomon Gate to Maniden. Shojin-ryori follows strict Buddhist dietary principles and is entirely plant-based, using only vegetables and grains without any animal products.

These carefully arranged dishes are served on exquisite Shosha lacquerware, enhancing the dining experience. While enjoying a modern interpretation of Engyo-ji Temple’s traditional cuisine, you can relax in a serene and peaceful setting.

This stunning historic temple, perched atop a mountain, offers a serene escape where you can clear your mind and enjoy unique experiences. Visit and create unforgettable memories that you won’t find anywhere else.

Enjoy a rare personal tour with Kenjo Ooki, the 141st Chief Priest of this Mount Hiei Tendai Lotus School branch temple. View the normally restricted Mani-den Hall, then practice zazen meditation under the Chief Priest’s guidance in the temple’s training hall. Surrounded by mountain serenity, immerse yourself in centuries of history and tradition.