Mt. Shosha - Shoshazan Engyoji Temple

We took bus #8 near our apartment all the way to Mt. Shosha ropeway. Mt. Shosha has many temples spread out over the mountaintop. People can hike up to the mountain in about 45-60 minutes but we chose to use the cable car (~ ¥600pp) to get to the top.

                        

The cable car was a short ride to the top. Once at the top there was a small entrance fee (~ ¥500pp) for the area. We walked up to Niomon gate (picture on the right), the entrance to Shosha. Here we saw most people bow as they either entered or left. Although it's a tourist destination, it is also a religious site for Buddhist people.     

  

 Left: Shinodokoro donsho                                                     Right: Niomon gate

We walked a few more minutes after Niomon gate to get to Engyoji-Maniden. There was Hazuki Tea House where you can get udon, rice balls and some other snack items. I believe it was the only spot where you could buy food. We had some delicious udon and rice balls.

  

 

  

Pictures inside Engyoji-Maniden

After eating, we went inside Engoji-Maniden. There were candles and incense burning. You could buy an ema, a small wooden plaque, to write a wish or prayer to hang on the wall. The emas were written in various languages from people all over the world.

Mitsundo (wooden temple halls)

From Engoji-Maniden we walked over to Mistundo. It consists of three wooden halls called Jikido, Daikodo and Jyogodo. This location has been used for various films, perhaps most famously "The Last Samurai" (2003). There are many other buildings you can see. Once we were done exploring we hiked down. It took us about 45 minutes to reach the bottom. Mt. Shosha is a great place to visit any time of the year.