Shigisan (Mt. Shigi) is located in Heguri-cho in Nara Prefecture. This mountain is selected as one of 100 mountains which are good for hiking in Nara Prefecture. Level is A (for beginner).
There are many holes there so you can visit them while hiking. You can also stay at Shukubo (=Temple lodging) .
The legend about this mountain is as follows:
Prince Shotoku arrived at this mountain in a way of going to Castle Kawachi-Inamura to subjugate Mononobe Moriya. It was about 1400 years ago.
As soon as he prayed for his victory, he was given a secret way of victory by Bishamonten, one of the Seven deities of Good Fortune.
We visited Mt. Shigi but there was not enough time to visit all temples. So I’ll introduce about some famous places we visited.
The sentence number from 1 to 7 corresponds to the number of the lower picture.
No.1: 大寅(Otra)
As I already mentioned, tiger is important for Mt. Shigi so you can see some Tiger monuments there. This picture’s tiger is the biggest.
It was much bigger than my image. It was too big to take a whole picture. We couldn’t see its face well because it was too tall.
Anyway, this tiger is not made from paper, but this is designed after the model of paper tiger which is decorated on Boys' Day. (Paper tiger is decorated only in Kansai area in Japan.) I'll introduce boys' day some other time.
No.5: 成福院(Jyofuku-in)
There were cute Komainu( Guardian lion-dog at Shinto shrine) there.
Komainu is usually dog, but you can see a pair of unique tiger-Komainu there.
No.3: 霊宝館(Reiho-kan)
It is said that the nation treasure 信貴山縁起絵巻』, which has been handed down from generation to generation is painted 12 century. It is a representative Japanese picture scroll. Other treasures are also seen here. (You have to pay the entrance fee.)
No.2: 本堂(Hondo, Main Hall)
The statue of Bishamonten is enshrined inside this main hall.
Bishamonten is believed to give four kinds of goods, success in business, wealth, good luck and wish fulfillment, most generously among them. Main hall commands a fine view.
No.7: 空鉢護法堂(Kuhatugohou-dou)
難陀竜王(Nandaryu-ou) ,Chamberlain for the Bishamonten is enshrined here.
My husband has been there before. I’m not sure but it takes about 1 hour from Otora(No.1) by walk. We didn’t go there this time. If you are interested in hiking, I think it is a good place to visit.
No.4玉蔵院(Gyokuzo-in),No.5成福院(Jyofuku-in),No.6千手院(Senjyu-in)
These are Shukubo (=Temple lodging). Phone number is on official site. But reservations are only responded in Japanese language.
You can read about the legend and explanation about Chogosonshi-ji Temple (Mt. Shigisan temples) at official site in English.(http://www.sigisan.or.jp/)
But how to go there in this site is Japanese language only. So I’ll explain main route by public transportation in English.
From Osaka
JR大阪(Osaka)－〈JR大和路快速(Yamatoji rapid train, 天王寺経由 via Tennouji）approx. 35min. 〉－JR王寺(Oji)※
王寺駅(Oji station bus terminal)※－〈奈良交通バスNara Kotsu Bus line※（信貴山門ゆきBound for Shigisan-mon）approx.22min. 〉－信貴大橋Shigi-Ohashi－by walk 5min.
※JR Oji station and Kintetsu Oji station are on the same site.
※You have to get out of North Exit at Oji station.
※You can check Nara Kotsu Bus line timetable at official site (www.narakotsu.co.jp). Change to English and click「Local Bus」→and click「Shigisan Chogosaonshi-ji Temple」
Bus departs almost every one hour. If you use taxi, it takes about 13 minutes(4km) to Shigisan Chogosaonshi-ji Temple.
From Nara
JR奈良(Nara)－〈JR大和路快速approx. 15min. 〉－JR王寺(Oji)
After Oji, please refer to 「From Osaka」.
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There are many holes there so you can visit them while hiking. You can also stay at Shukubo (=Temple lodging) .
The legend about this mountain is as follows:
Prince Shotoku arrived at this mountain in a way of going to Castle Kawachi-Inamura to subjugate Mononobe Moriya. It was about 1400 years ago.
As soon as he prayed for his victory, he was given a secret way of victory by Bishamonten, one of the Seven deities of Good Fortune.
It was at 4:00 am(=Tiger time), Tiger day and Tiger year. We sometime use animal names to express time, day, and year. The custom traces back to Chinese thought.
We visited Mt. Shigi but there was not enough time to visit all temples. So I’ll introduce about some famous places we visited.
The sentence number from 1 to 7 corresponds to the number of the lower picture.
As I already mentioned, tiger is important for Mt. Shigi so you can see some Tiger monuments there. This picture’s tiger is the biggest.
Anyway, this tiger is not made from paper, but this is designed after the model of paper tiger which is decorated on Boys' Day. (Paper tiger is decorated only in Kansai area in Japan.) I'll introduce boys' day some other time.
No.5: 成福院(Jyofuku-in)
There were cute Komainu( Guardian lion-dog at Shinto shrine) there.
No.3: 霊宝館(Reiho-kan)
No.2: 本堂(Hondo, Main Hall)
No.7: 空鉢護法堂(Kuhatugohou-dou)
難陀竜王(Nandaryu-ou) ,Chamberlain for the Bishamonten is enshrined here.
My husband has been there before. I’m not sure but it takes about 1 hour from Otora(No.1) by walk. We didn’t go there this time. If you are interested in hiking, I think it is a good place to visit.
No.4玉蔵院(Gyokuzo-in),No.5成福院(Jyofuku-in),No.6千手院(Senjyu-in)
These are Shukubo (=Temple lodging). Phone number is on official site. But reservations are only responded in Japanese language.
You can read about the legend and explanation about Chogosonshi-ji Temple (Mt. Shigisan temples) at official site in English.(http://www.sigisan.or.jp/)
But how to go there in this site is Japanese language only. So I’ll explain main route by public transportation in English.
From Osaka
JR大阪(Osaka)－〈JR大和路快速(Yamatoji rapid train, 天王寺経由 via Tennouji）approx. 35min. 〉－JR王寺(Oji)※
王寺駅(Oji station bus terminal)※－〈奈良交通バスNara Kotsu Bus line※（信貴山門ゆきBound for Shigisan-mon）approx.22min. 〉－信貴大橋Shigi-Ohashi－by walk 5min.
※JR Oji station and Kintetsu Oji station are on the same site.
※You have to get out of North Exit at Oji station.
※You can check Nara Kotsu Bus line timetable at official site (www.narakotsu.co.jp). Change to English and click「Local Bus」→and click「Shigisan Chogosaonshi-ji Temple」
Bus departs almost every one hour. If you use taxi, it takes about 13 minutes(4km) to Shigisan Chogosaonshi-ji Temple.
From Nara
JR奈良(Nara)－〈JR大和路快速approx. 15min. 〉－JR王寺(Oji)
After Oji, please refer to 「From Osaka」.
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