Kojozen-ji

Kojo-ji is a temple of the Soto Zen sect located in Setoda, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Its mountain name is Choon-zan, and the principal image is Shakyamuni Buddha. It is the eleventh sacred site on the Chugoku Thirty-three Kannon Pilgrimage. Situated on a hilltop overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, it has long been venerated as a protective temple for sailors navigating these waters. From the temple grounds, visitors are treated to magnificent views of Ikuchijima island and the scattered island scenery. The three-story pagoda, a National Treasure built during the Muromachi period, conveys the distinctive beauty born from the fusion of Seto Inland Sea culture and Buddhism. Beyond pilgrims visiting the sacred site, many travelers come to experience the scenic precincts.