勝福寺, Buddhist temple on Mount Maya in Kobe, Japan.
Shōfukuji is a Buddhist temple situated on Mount Maya in Kobe at approximately 700 meters elevation, featuring traditional architecture with multiple shrines and structures on the grounds. The complex spreads across the mountainside and offers views overlooking the city.
The temple was founded in 646 when monk Hōdō cured Emperor Kōtoku of an illness. It relocated to a higher location after a fire in 1975.
The temple maintains Shingon Buddhist practices and houses a statue of Maya, Buddha's mother, that arrived from China during the Nara period.
The temple is accessible via established hiking trails on Mount Maya and works well as a day hike destination. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since the path is steep and uneven.
The temple's location on the mountain gave the mountain its name and made it a central reference point in Kobe's religious landscape. This connection demonstrates the site's importance to the city.
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