Kōmyō-ji

Kōmyō-ji is a Buddhist temple in Onomichi that spreads across multiple levels on a hillside, connected by stone steps linking various buildings and prayer halls. The complex houses important artworks including a wooden thousand-hand statue and a gilded copper image, both designated as significant cultural properties.

The temple was founded between 834 and 847 by the monk Enni and shifted from the Tendai sect to the Jōdō sect in 1336. Later, members of the Murakami Navy became supporters of the temple, linking their maritime heritage to this sacred place.

The temple serves as a place where art and spiritual devotion come together, with sculptures and gilded images that reflect the artistic skill devoted to prayer over centuries. Visitors can experience how local patrons once supported the temple through their faith and resources.

The temple sits seven minutes walk from JR Onomichi Station and welcomes free visits, though viewing treasured artifacts involves a modest fee. The climb up stone steps requires some physical effort, but can be managed at a leisurely pace.

The grounds feature distinctive boat-shaped graves that commemorate members of the Murakami Navy who once controlled the waters around Onomichi. This unusual grave form is a rare reminder of how maritime history became woven into this sacred site.