From Hiroshima Station, take a 13-minute eastbound train ride on the Sanyo Line, and get off at Akinakano, from where Mt.Rengeji will be about one hour ascent. Around the summit of the mountain is a relaxation forest park. Cherry trees planted around the park by local people attract many hikers especially during the hanami season.

It is said that Kobodaishi, a great teacher of Buddhism, built a key temple to propagate Shingon Buddhism in 808 at the top of this mountain, and named Rengeji which implies a lotus flower. It was also told that in 1221 a local ruler, Mitsutsuna Asonoma, made it a prayer hall, and it prospered as a center of Buddhism, but in 1527 his castle was attacked by Yoshitaka Ouchi and Motonari Mori, and this temple which was under his protection, was also burnt down, because he had changed from the Ouchi-Mori side to their enemy Tunehisa Amako.

The present temple was built in 1929, and 88 stone Buddhist images were placed along the 2-kilometer trail to the mountaintop which was the original temple site. From the summit you can overlook a splendid view of the city.

◆Getting there

Take a train on the Sanyo Line, and get off at Akinakano Station. In front of the station, there is a guideboard showing the way to the mountain. From there, Mt. Rengeji will be one hour ascent.

◆Suggested schedule

Hiroshima(9:14)===(Sanyo Line)===Aki-nakano(9:26)----

---Rengeji Temple(9:40)---Mt.Rengeji(11:00〜12:30)---

---Aki-nakano(14:21)===

===(Sanyo Line)===Hiroshima Station(14:33)