[Kasai City] Famous as a spot for autumn leaves! ``Mt. Hokke Ichijoji'' is the 26th temple of the 33 temples in the Saigoku region.

• Table of Contents
• A temple commissioned by Emperor Kotoku that has many cultural assets such as national treasures.
• Charge your power with forest bathing! Let's take a walk around the temple grounds
• Get a great bus ticket to Mt. Hokke Ichijoji Temple
• how to access
• basic information

A temple commissioned by Emperor Kotoku that has many cultural assets such as national treasures.

``Hokkezan Ichijoji'' is a temple of the Tendai sect and was built by Hodo Sennin.

Many people may remember Emperor Kotoku for having ascended the throne after overthrowing the Soga clan in 645 (the first year of Taika), and for carrying out the Taika Reforms with Prince Naka no Oe and others.

In addition to the three-story pagoda, which is a national treasure and was built in 1171, the temple also has a number of important cultural sites such as the statues of Prince Shotoku and Tendai High Priest, which are also national treasures, as well as Myokendo, Bentendo, and Gohodo. owns property.

As the song ``Goeika'' that ordinary believers recite when touring temples says, ``Spring is a flower, summer is a tachibana, autumn is a chrysanthemum, always a wondrous flower mountain of law.'' One of the attractions is that you can enjoy the natural surroundings.

Especially in autumn, the autumn leaves scattered around the temple grounds turn beautiful colors, making it a popular spot for autumn leaves.

After paying the entrance fee to the temple at the reception desk, head up the stone steps to the Kondo (main hall).

There is also a gentle approach path on the right for people in wheelchairs or with disabilities.

As you climb the stone steps, you can see the three-storied pagoda, a national treasure, on your left.

The tower seen from below has a profound feeling. I feel a dignified strength in how it continues to be there even after so many years.

There is also a splendid oni tile on the roof.

At the top of the stone stairs, a main hall is built.

This main hall was rebuilt in 1628 by Honda Tadamasa, the lord of Himeji. It uses an architectural style called ``kake-zukuri,'' which has a protruding structure, and is quite impressive when viewed from the stone steps.

Inside the main hall, a statue of Sho Kanzeon Bodhisattva, the principal image, is enshrined (photography is prohibited inside the main hall). This statue is said to date from the late 7th century to the early 8th century, and is designated as an important cultural property of the country.

Unfortunately, it is a hidden Buddha, so you can only see it on special occasions such as when the statue is unveiled, but it is definitely worth a visit when you visit the Kondo Hall.

Three-storied pagoda seen from the main hall

Goshuin stamp

In addition, ``Hokkezan Ichijoji'' is said to be the 26th temple of the 33 temples in the Saigoku region, and is visited by many people on pilgrimages to the 33 temples in the Saigoku region. You can receive Goshuin stamps, Sanka stamps, etc. inside the main hall.

Charge your power with forest bathing! Let's take a walk around the temple grounds

Gohodo

After visiting the Kondo hall, let's take a walk around the grounds. There is a ``Bell Tower'' next to the main hall, and a ``Gohodo Hall'' behind it.

Next, we decided to walk through the forest, aiming for Kaizando in Okunoin.

Walking among the towering trees felt so good, and my tired body somehow felt more energetic. The purpose was to visit a shrine, but at the same time, I felt refreshed and recharged with the effects of forest bathing.

Kaizando can be seen in the back of the photo.

If you walk further back from Kaizando, you will find Sai no Kawara. ``Sainokawara'' is a riverbed that appears in Buddhist tales and is said to be the place where dead children go. The story goes that the children build a tower by stacking stones on the riverbank, but it gets knocked down by demons, and each time they have to stack the stones again.

It is said that it is a sin to die before one's parents, and this is to atone for that sin.

There are many stones piled up all over Kaizando and Sai no Kawara.

It is said that the people who came to pray had piled them up in place of the children who had died.

When I visited in late October, there was only a little bit of color in some places.

``Mt. Hokke Ichijoji'' is also famous as a spot for autumn leaves. The autumn leaves season is said to last for about two weeks from early November every year, but depending on the year, you can enjoy the autumn leaves until late November.

It seems that the autumn leaves trees in the precincts were not planted from seedlings purchased at a store, but instead the autumn leaves seeds that were growing naturally spread and multiplied naturally.

In particular, it's a great photo spot where you can see the three-storied pagoda and the autumn leaves together from Kondo! It is also recommended to visit during the autumn leaves season.

Get a great bus ticket to Mt. Hokke Ichijoji Temple

We recommend this ticket for those considering touring around Himeji and Hyogo Prefecture! This is a mobile ticket that allows you to ride unlimited Shinki Bus route buses + Kobe City Loop/Port Loop for 1,000 yen a day.

*Limited to foreign visitors tourists visiting Japan

Click here for purchase and details of Hyogo Amazing Pass

how to access

From JR Himeji Station or Sanyo-Himeji Station, take the Shinki Bus bound for ``Ichijoji ~ Shrine [Shako-mae]'' from the ``Himeji Station North Exit'' bus stop for about 40 minutes, then get off at the ``Hokesan Ichijoji'' bus stop and walk for about 10 minutes.

If you are going by car, it is about a 10 minute drive from the Sanyo Expressway Kakokawakita IC. There is a private paid parking lot, so you may want to use that (about 10 minutes walk from the parking lot).

There are no pamphlets available in foreign languages, but there is an information board that explains the temple in English, so if you are a foreign visitors who is not good at Japanese, please refer to it. ``Hokesan Ichijoji'' has a long history, having been founded over 1,350 years ago. The three-storied pagoda, a national treasure built at the end of the Heian period, has an imposing presence, and the view from the main hall is breathtaking. It is located in a place surrounded by trees, and it is pleasant to stroll around the grounds, so please take your time and look around.

(Writer Nakata/West Plan)

*This article is information as of October 2023. Prices include tax. Product contents and prices may change. Please check the official website for the latest information.

basic information

Hokkezan Ichijoji Temple

Address: 821-17 Sakamotocho, Kasai City, Hyogo Prefecture

Phone number: 0790-48-4000 (Kondo/Nokyojo) 0790-48-2006 (Honbo)

Visiting hours: 8:00-17:00

No regular holiday

Admission fee: 500 yen

Access: ・Approximately 50 minutes by bus from Himeji Station ・Approximately 10 minutes by car from Sanyo Expressway Kakokawakita IC

Parking: Available (150 spaces/passenger car 300 yen, motorcycle 130 yen)