What other travelers are saying about Shoshazan Engyoji Temple
The Engyoji temple is a significant Buddhist temple located on Mount Shosha in Himeji. The temple complex is huge but main parts to cover are the Maniden, Jogyodo, Daikodo, Jikido. You can dedicate an ema for wish fulfilment at Maniden. The Maniden can be reached via a walk up the mountain from the ropeway station. The walk up is around fifteen minutes and has many Kannon statues on the way. Or you can take a shuttle but it comes at some intervals. Majority of the important places to visit are located within five to ten minutes of walk. But also except for Mani den, many of the buildings are not open for public.
Mt Shosha, Himeji, is stunning. Impressive complex, spent about 2 relaxed and very enjoyable hours there. Stunning mid-Nov autumnal scenery. Well worth the visit.
Bus direct to cable car which runs every 15mins. Van drives up to shrines for those needing it. Walk to shrines is pretty, uphill but not difficult.
The most magical place I've ever been to. You take the ropeway up to the stop. You can either take a bus or hike your way up. I would recommend to walk your way down after taking the bus up. This place is so serene and calming.
A temple complex on top of Mount Shosha. To reach the mountain top, you could either hike the mountain or ride the cable car. I chose the cable car (highly recommended), but there is still 15-20 minutes of inclined walking from the ropeway to the temple through a path surrounded by the forest. My corporate slave joints are complaining but my eyes and lungs are full of gratitude.
I went in late spring so there was no cherry blossoms or autumn leaves. However, the green foliage also felt so rewarding. The temple has a wooden stage which is like a balcony, similar to Kiyomizu-dera. There were not many visitors as well, making it perfect for a calm retreat. We could also explore the areas surrounding the main temple building.
The cable car ride up to Engyō-ji was great, and I really enjoyed the nature and peaceful atmosphere once there. The temple complex is beautiful and feels wonderfully calm — a nice contrast to the busy city below. Only downside was that Google’s route planning for the way back wasn’t the best, but the visit itself was absolutely worth it.
To reach Shoshazan Engyoji Temple from Himeji, take JR train to Himeji Station, then bus #10 to Shoshazan Ropeway station. Take the Mount Shosha Ropeway cable car to the summit, then walk 20 minutes through the forest to reach the temple complex.
Shoshazan Engyoji Temple is open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (until 4:00 PM in winter). The entrance fee is 500 yen for adults and 200 yen for children. The Mount Shosha Ropeway costs an additional 1,000 yen round trip for adults.
Shoshazan Engyoji Temple served as a filming location for Tom Cruise's movie 'The Last Samurai' and the popular NHK drama 'Musashibo Benkei'. The temple's ancient wooden halls and mystical forest atmosphere made it perfect for these historical productions.
Key attractions at Shoshazan Engyoji Temple include the Maniden Main Hall, Daikodo Lecture Hall, Jikido Refectory Hall, and the scenic walking paths through ancient cedar forests. The temple complex offers stunning views of Himeji city and the Seto Inland Sea.
The best time to visit Shoshazan Engyoji Temple for autumn foliage is mid-November to early December. The temple's mountain location at 371 meters elevation provides spectacular fall colors with maple and ginkgo trees creating a stunning backdrop for the historic buildings.
