Page 43 - NU Newsletter 2022

1000 years

Temple in JP

This 1,000-year-old temple appears in many films, including a forests. The majority of the buildings can be accessed by a
Hollywood blockbuster! Can you tell which one? walk or bus ride from the upper ropeway station.

Engyoji atop Mt. Shosha in Hyogo Prefecture is of great histor-
ical and cultural significance. Immerse yourself in the Zen Niomon Gate and Maniden

meditation experience while taking in the gorgeous view from From the upper ropeway station, it is a 10-minute walk to
the mountain. reach Niomon Gate and the same to reach Maniden, a

wooden temple built on stilt-like foundations on one of the

A mountain, a movie set, a temple, and panoramic views mountain's steeper slopes. Many pilgrims come to Maniden
across Himeji City to receive scrolls stamped with the temple's seal.
Mt. Shosha, at the northern edge of Himeji City , is home to

Engyoji, a temple over 1,000 years old. The temple's lack of The three large temple halls

modern infrastructure means it is a common feature in period Three large temple halls are a five-minute walk into the
films, and it even made an appearance in "The Last Samu- forests. Mitsunodo is the massive wooden main hall, Jikido is
rai." Despite its fringe location, the mountain is only 25 a lodging and dining hall that exhibits some of the temple's

minutes away by public transport. treasures, and Jogyodo is the temple's gymnasium. Farther

still is an observation point that looks across Himeji City and
How to Get There several other temple buildings.
You can get to the mountain by bus and then by ropeway. Visitors can try shojin ryori (vegetarian Buddhist cuisine)

Mt. Shosha is accessible by public transport. Take the served on Edo-period lacquerware at the elegant sub-temple

number 8 bus to the Mt. Shosha Ropeway stop. From here, of Juryoin. It is also possible to stay the night at Myokoin or
take the ropeway into the mountains or enjoy the hour-long Engyoji Kaikan.
hike up the slope. Save money by buying the combined Shos-

hazan Ropeway ticket, which includes the bus and the rope-

way fare.

Engyoji Temple

Engyoji Temple is spread across the face of Mt. Shosha, with

several temple buildings built within the mountain's dense

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