Senjuin Shorakuji Temple

Passing through the large trees, you will be greeted by the bell tower of Shingon sect's Senjuin Shorakuji Temple.

This bell tower is also a designated cultural asset and is two stories high.
Although it is not usually possible to actually enter the temple, visitors can ring the temple bell on December 31 to celebrate the New Year's eve.
It is crowded with about 100 parishioners every year.
The main hall is also the third temple of the Chugoku Kannon Sacred Ground, and many people visit the temple to pay their respects.

The temple's history begins with the foundation of Hoon Daishi during the Tenpyo Shobo era (749-757 A.D.). In the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Shonin Shonin built the temple at its present location. The present building was built during the Glorious Era (1704-1710 A.D.) for the main hall, shoin, etc., and the Niomon gate was hung for seven years from the 7th year of Bunka (1810 A.D.). When considering the sculptural art of "Clouds and Waves," there are many temples in Bizen Province, but few have this kind of art. The temple's Chitein record states, "The beauty of the grand and splendid building has been restored to its original state," and it can be said that the building retains the appearance of the magnificent Kamakura period. In the Edo period (1603-1867), the Bizen Ikeda clan used the temple as a place of prayer for the Gonokimon, or the demon gate of the Gon. Needless to say, the temple magistrate put a lot of effort into rebuilding the temple after the great fire, and during the reconstruction, Saito Ikko Nyukon, the sixth grandson of Kumazawa Ryosuke, served as the temple magistrate from Bunka 5 to 10, which was a great help.