Filming Locations for the Movie "The Last Samurai" Engyoji Temple is a temple of the Tendai sect, a special head temple located in Shosha, Himeji City. It is located on the mountaintop of Mount Shosha and is said to have been founded by Shoku in 966. The principal image is Shaka Sanzon. It is the 27th temple of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage. The title of "Chori" (chief priest) was bestowed by the Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa. The following three items are provided: 1. Goshuin (temple stamp) (Maniden Hall) 2. Engyoji Temple Walking Map (Folded, from the mountaintop station) It is the largest temple among the 33 temples of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, located on a mountaintop at an altitude of 371m, and is called the "Hiei-zan of the West." Its temple rank is high, and in the medieval period, it was a giant temple that was called one of the three major training centers of the Tendai sect, along with Hiei-zan and Mount Daisen. Although it is located far from Kyoto, it was deeply revered by the imperial family and nobles, and many emperors and retired emperors visited. After passing through giant cedar trees and climbing the slope, there are "Three Halls," which are also famous as filming locations for movies and dramas. The scenery of large temple buildings lined up on the mountaintop is magnificent. In the movie "The Last Samurai," which made Shoshazan Engyoji Temple known to the world, many cuts were filmed around these three halls. The scene where Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe greet each other was filmed in Jogyodo, one of the three halls.