Engyo-ji

On the morning of  July 10, I was supposed to head back to Tokyo by bullet train.

Instead, I headed off to Engyo-ji, a temple complex with over 1,000 years of history located near Mount Shosha (Shoshazan). The temple is famous in the west because of its use in the film “The Last Sammuri.” 

After taking a 30 minute bus ride from Himeji Station, I rode a cable car to the top of the mountain. 

I eventually made my way to the Maniden, a beautiful wooden temple hall. A walk through the woods eventually brought me to Mitsunodo, the main hall that was shown in the film.

Additionally, I also had an opportunity to glance at the Golden Buddha within the temple and listen to some morning prayer chants conducted by the monks. With no one else around, and being deep within a forested mountain area, it proved to be a profoundly moving experience.

In the afternoon, I finally made my way back to Tokyo.

Himeji-jo

On the morning of July 9, I made my way by bullet train (Shinkansen) to Himeji to visit its world famous castle. Once there, I made my way to the Comfort Hotel, checked in, and headed off to the castle.

Himeji castle is widely believed to be Japan’s most spectacular castle. It was never destroyed in wars, earthquakes, or fires, and survives in its original form. Begun in the 14th century, the current complex reflects the 1609 configuration. As a hilltop castle, the complex has a network of 83 buildings and a series of advanced defensive systems.

Although the castle keep appears to have five floors, it actually has six and a basement. Climbing to the top was very strenuous, especially given the heat and humidity on the day I visited.

The interior still contains all the original woodworking and is an incredible display of Japanese castle architecture. There is no doubt, the castle’s beauty, both inside and out, are unmatched.