Enkyoji

Last weekend I visited Enkyoji with friends Shinsuke and Bill (Colleen was hiking with some fellow ALTs). Enkyoji is one of those things that's really close (NW side of Himeji) but tucked away & so I hadn't made my way there yet. The temple's recent claim to fame is that some scenes from "The Last Samurai" were filmed there. Tuesday Tamako told me that while they were doing so one of her friends got up at 4am to go to the watch them film & catch a glimpse of the scientologist.

Beyond it's Hollywood connection though, the temple is really amazing. It's high up Mt. Shosa, so far up your choices to get there are either hike up or ride the ropeway, a ski-lift-meets-cable-car contraption. We opted for the lift. This year is the 1000th anniversary of the temple's founder's death, so there were several special statues on display & we were given access to rooms that are usually off-limits. Very cool. It was on par with anything Kyoto or Nara has to offer. Glad it's so close. If I end up going back with Colleen I might even hike it.