Imakoyasan (Ryugeji Temple and Nyu Shrine)

Mount Koya is a sacred site said to have been founded approximately 1200 years ago by Kobo Daishi Kukai. Ryugeji Temple and Niu Shrine are designated as Hiroshima Prefecture Historic Sites, representing valuable historical sites that preserve the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. During the Heian period, it flourished as the center of the Ota-sho estate, a territory of Mount Koya. Ota-sho was a manor ruled by the Taira no Kiyomori family and was known for producing high-quality rice; the harvested rice was transported from Onomichi to Mount Koya in Kishu.

The temple grounds are known as one of the prefecture's most scenic spots. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom along the approach to the temple, and in autumn, the entire mountain, centered around Kaminoike Pond, is enveloped in vibrant autumn foliage. The scenery created by the vermilion-painted Kaminohashi Bridge and nature is a popular photo spot where you can appreciate the beauty of each season.

Within the temple grounds, enveloped in a serene atmosphere, old buildings are scattered, allowing visitors to stroll leisurely and enjoy their charm. At "Setsugetsu Fuka Fukuchiin," a cafe converted from an Edo-period temple lodging, you can enjoy Japanese tea and sweets after your stroll. The views from the Kojōyama Observatory (approximately 30 minutes) and the low-mountain hike to the 88 stone Buddha statues scattered across the mountain behind (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes) are also popular.

Ryūgeji Temple attracts many visitors with its annual fire-walking ritual on April 20th and the unveiling of two wooden eleven-faced Kannon statues from the Heian period on August 20th. Niu Shrine preserves a lion's head and statues of the Niu and Takano deities from the Kamakura period, and the entire grounds contain numerous valuable cultural assets, including a total of five nationally designated important cultural properties. The Ōta-shō History Museum on the grounds offers a deeper look into the history of this area.