Ichijoji Temple

Ichijoji Temple: Temple 26 of the Saigoku Pilgrimage

Ichijoji Temple (一乗寺) is a Tendai Buddhist temple in Sakamoto-cho, Kasai City, Hyogo Prefecture, whose three-storey pagoda of 1171 was designated a National Treasure in 1952, while its main hall, Goho-do, Benten-do and Myoken-do halls and a stone five-ring pagoda are Important Cultural Properties. Its mountain name is Hokkesan.

According to Kasai City, temple records say it was founded in 650, in the reign of Emperor Kotoku, when the holy man Hodo arrived bringing a gilt-bronze Sho Kannon and built a hall, though there is no firm evidence. It is Temple 26 of the Saigoku Thirty-Three Pilgrimage, and its principal image is Sho Kannon.

The Saigoku pilgrimage association records visits by three emperors, Kotoku, Kazan and Go-Daigo. After the fires of the Daiei era, Akamatsu Yoshisuke rebuilt the main hall, and after the main hall and bell tower burned in the Genna era, Honda Tadamasa, lord of Himeji, rebuilt them.

The Six Designated Structures

The oldest is the three-storey pagoda, whose finial base is inscribed with the year 1171; Kasai City calls it the oldest surviving pagoda in Hyogo Prefecture. The main hall, a nine-bay hall of 1628, is built out over the slope on a stilted frame; its dismantling repair was completed in 2008.

Small shrine halls stand behind the main hall. The Goho-do of the late Kamakura period is up a flight of stone steps on the hill, while at its foot are the Benten-do of the mid-Muromachi period and, next to it, the late Muromachi Myoken-do. A stone five-ring pagoda inscribed with a date in 1321 also survives in the precinct.

The temple also holds many treasures; the Kasai tourism association notes that its painting set of Prince Shotoku and Tendai patriarchs is a National Treasure.

Visiting

According to the Saigoku pilgrimage association, the temple is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission is 500 yen. The treasure hall costs a further 500 yen and must be booked in advance by return postcard or fax (0790-48-3848). Regular treasure viewing days are held every 4 April and 5 November, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The car park holds 150 vehicles; cars pay 300 yen. By public transport, take a bus bound for Yashiro via Ichijoji from Himeji Station and get off at Ichijoji. A taxi from JR Hoden Station takes 15 minutes, and by car it is about 5 kilometres (10 minutes) from the Kakogawa-kita interchange of the Sanyo Expressway. Telephone the main hall office on 0790-48-4000.