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Mt. Fukuoji (496m) |
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Kabe Town Asakita Ward Hiroshima City | |
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福王寺山 可部町 | |
| Map | Fukuoji Temple sits on the 496-meter Mt. Fukuoji in Kabe Town, neighboring Mt. Takamatsu, an old castle mountain,which stands to the east across the Nenotani River. |
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Fukuoji Temple belongs to the Shingon sect of Buddhism whose religious Ideas are said to have been brought to
Japan from China in 806 by a great monk,Kukai. According to a guideboard that is set up beside a huge cedar tree on the grounds of the temple, Kukai founded this temple in the ninth century when he climbed this mountain while he was going on a pilgrimage to various parts of the country. He found an unusual tree in the mountain and sculpted it to make "Fudoomyo",the principal image of the temple,without cutting it down. Soon a golden-colored turtle appeared from a nearby pond. She bowed and showed respect for it. Entering the Niomon gate, where a pair of guardian gods' statues stands on both sides, you will see the 22-meter-tall "Kondo" main hall right in front of you. It was reconstructed in 1981 after being burnt down by lightning. The wooden Fudoomyo image, which is enshrined in the building, was also remade at that time, setting it on the former image place. The Kondo hall is surrounded by old buildings including the Amida (Amitabha) Hall, Kobodaishi (another name of Kukai) Image Hall and the Guardian Gods' Hall. The pond, where the legendary turtle was said to have lived, is close by. Start from Kabe Station on the Kabe Line, and walk north along Rte.54 to Kamiichi for a kilometer and turn left to Rte.191. Walk for 700 meters to Fukuoji-guchi. From there make a 1.5-hour hike to the temple. Getting there: Take a train on the JR Kabe Line and get off at Kabe Station. Suggested schedule: HiroshimaSta.(8:46)===(Kabe Line)===Yokogawa(8:53)=== ===Kabe(9:24) ---Fukuoji-guchi(10:00)---Fukuoji Temple(11:30-13:00)--- ---Fukuoji-guchi---Kabe(15:08)===(Kabe Line)===Hiroshima Sta.(15:44) *Train timetables may be subject to change. Note: To be safe, especially in winter, keep in mind not to go into the mountains alone, and be sure to go with a well-experienced hiker. |
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