Hōzan-ji, Buddhist temple on Mount Ikoma, Japan
Hōzan-ji is a Buddhist temple on Mount Ikoma in Nara Prefecture, with pavilions and buildings spread across several levels of the mountain. Stone paths and steps connect the structures through dense forest, leading between the different shrines and halls.
A monk established the site in 665 as a training ground for Buddhist practice in the region. In the 17th century, monk Tenkai elevated its status and expanded its influence beyond the local area.
The temple draws merchants and business owners who come seeking blessings for their ventures, making it the central site for Kangiten worship in the country. Visitors often bring radishes and sake as traditional offerings, which are left at the altar after the ceremony.
Visitors reach the temple via the Kintetsu cable car from Hozanji Station or by walking a forested path that takes about 15 minutes. The site opens in the morning around 8 a.m. and closes in the late afternoon near 4:30 p.m.
The country built its first cable car in 1918 specifically to carry visitors to this mountain temple. The line tackles the steep climb and shortens the ascent considerably for pilgrims and tourists alike.
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