Kakurin-ji

Kakurin-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kakogawa, Hyōgo Prefecture, recognized as a National Treasure of Japan and combining several wooden structures across a hillside site. The three-story pagoda stands among cedars and old pines, while halls and a bell tower spread along maintained paths and stone steps.

Prince Shōtoku ordered the foundation of this site in 589 after Korean monk Eben found refuge here from persecution. Later expansions in the 12th and 13th centuries added the pagoda and further buildings that still form the core of the complex today.

The temple name combines the character for deer with the character for forest, reflecting the wooded mountain landscape all around. Visitors today still encounter a practice of silence, where the ringing of the temple bell marks the rhythm of the day and invites pilgrims to pause.

The approach to the temple grounds follows paved and sometimes steep paths, so sturdy footwear makes walking much easier. Those wanting to experience the site in quiet should choose early morning hours, when fewer people are around and light filters through the trees.

Inside the main building rest five Buddhist statues that are publicly shown only once every 60 years for a short time. This long concealment deepens the reverence of believers who travel from across the country for the rare opening.