Mount Shosha, Himeji, Honshu, Japan

Mount Shosha

Shoshazan Engyoji — a Buddhist temple complex of over 20 structures connected by forest paths — sits atop Mount Shosha near Himeji on Japan’s main island, Honshu. This peaceful monastery is just a 30-minute bus-and-ropeway ride from Himeji Station. The scent of Hinoki cypress and Sugi cedar used to build the temples lingers everywhere, and the deep stillness you feel sitting inside the two-story Jikido hall makes Engyoji as much a sensory experience as a spiritual one. The Jikido also houses an exhibition on The Last Samurai, partly filmed right here. Eating is not permitted on the sacred grounds, but you’ll find good spots for a picnic further past the main halls, along the forest trails, or near the upper ropeway station.