Chogosonshi-ji — Attraction in Heguri

Chogosonshi-ji Temple is the Grand Head Temple of {Shigisan Shingon sect} located on Mt. Shigi in Heguri-cho, Ikoma County, Nara Prefecture. Its principal image is Bishamonten (Vaisravana, also called Tamonten). It is also called 'Shigisan-ji Temple' and commonly known as 'Shigisan no Bishamon san' (Bishamonten of Mt. Shingi). Every year, many worshippers visit the temple in the New Year period.

It is counted among the Seven Gods of Good Fortune in Yamato: Chogosonshi-ji Temple, Kume-dera Temple, Kojima-dera Temple, Kobusa Kannon-ji Temple, Tanzan-jinja Shrine, Taima-dera Temple Nakano-do Hall, and Abe Monju-in Temple.

History Chogosonshi-ji Temple is located on the Nara Prefecture side slope of Mt. Shigi towering on the border of Yamato Province (Nara Prefecture) and Kawachi Province (Osaka Prefecture). Its time of foundation and development are not clear.

It is said that the national treasure that is handed down in the temple, "Shigisan Engi" (legends of Mt. Shigi) was established in the late Heian period in 12th century, and it is recognized as a representative work among Japanese picture scrolls. Unlike ordinary illustrated origins of shrines and temples, this picture scroll does not describe anything about details of how Chogosonshi-ji Temple was founded, but its subject mater is a miraculous stories of a highly virtuous monk called Myoren (命蓮) who was practicing in Mt. Shigi. The volume two (of three) of the illustrated scroll describes an anecdote that Myoren healed the illness of the Emperor of the Engi era (Emperor Godaigo) with his power of Buddhism. An anecdote almost same as the captions of "Shigisan Engi" is contained in "Uji Shui Monogatari" (a collection of the Tales from Uji), and "Konjaku Monogatari (Shu) " (The Tale of Times Now Past) also contains an anecdote about foundation of Shigisan-ji Temple. (In "Uji Shui Monogatari," the name of the monk is 'Moren, and in "Konjaku Monogatari," it is...

Hidden gem to be found. It is not so easy to get here, 2 train rides then taxi - that's what we did. On the way back we waited for the bus. It's all the way in the mountain area and away from tourists. Staff were very welcoming, not so many people yet as it isn't known well yet. Very nice walking hike up the mountain without crowds as in many tourist areas. Too bad when we were there the udon place was closed. Did buy some charms special to the tiger temple and donated to the temple. Nice view when you reached the top. As it was in the mountain area, it was a bit chilly. There was also bungee jumping on the bridge but it was not operating when we were there. Overall visit was superb. We made an effort to get here and it...

Chogosonshiji is a temple full of tigers. These are not the scary, man-eating type, however, but spirit animals that offer blessings to visitors. There is also a scroll that may be considered one of the world's first manga.

The temple is most easily accessed from Oji Station on the Kintetsu Line. From the north exit, you can take a bus bound for Shigi-sammon. The temple is a five-minute walk from the Shigi-ohashi bus stop. It is also possible to ride a cable car up the mountain from Shigisanguchi Station.

We visited it on August 2024 during our stay at Gyokuzoin.

I suggest to visit it by night to get an even best experience -so magical with...