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HistoryYumesaki Seven Gods of Fortune

The folkloric Seven Gods of Fortune are enshrined at seven temples and shrines in the city. It takes about three hours to visit them, starting from the first temple, Miroku-ji, and ending at the seventh, Shokai-ji.
On the first three days of the New Year in particular, many worshippers visit the seven temples in search of good fortune.
If you collect a stamp ("goshuin") from each temple and shrine, you can make a beautiful collection, which you can frame and display for good luck.
*Please call in advance to each shrine or temple if you are looking to collect stamps.

[No. 1 Miroku-ji Temple (Hotei, god of happiness)]
Also known as the inner sanctuary of Shoshazan Engyo-ji Temple, this temple belongs to the Tendai sect of Buddhism. The head priest Shoku came to live in seclusion here in a thatched hut in the year 1000, and the temple was also visited by the 10th century emperor, Kazan.
The temple is also home to many cultural assets and temple treasures, especially in the Main Hall, in which there is a Maitreya Buddha statue with two figures at its side, nationally designated important cultural properties.
Blessings: Wealth and happiness, prosperity of family fortune
Location: 1051 Tera, Yumesaki-cho, Himeji, Hyogo
Phone number: 079-335-0330

[No.2 Shokaku-ji Temple (Jurojin, god of longevity)]
This temple belongs to the Tendai sect of Buddhism and is said to have been built by the head priest Shoku on Mt. Do in the year 1000. It was moved to its current location in the Horeki (1751-1764) years of the Edo period (1603-1868). The temple's principal image of worship is a statue of Amida Buddha, flanked by statues of the goddess Kannon, and in the side altars, the Kannons of the 33 Kannon Pilgrimage in the Kinki region are enshrined.
The temple also enshrines the priest Ryogen, who is said to be the founder of omikuji (a type of fortune telling using slips of paper).
Blessings: Longevity, family happiness
Location: 527 Yama-no-uchi, Yumesaki-cho, Himeji, Hyogo
Phone number: 079-338-0105 (Enmyo-ji Temple)

[No.3 Shinraku-ji Temple (Fukurokuju, god of wisdom)]
This temple is a branch temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect, and was founded by the head priest Kakuson in 1521. Its principal deity is the Nyorai Buddha, the most fundamental deity of Esoteric Buddhism, and its supporting deities are Fudo Myo-o (a fierce Budhist deity), Yakushi Buddha (the medicine buddha), eleven-faced Kannon (goddess of mercy), Jizo bodhisattva, Hariti (goddess of childbirth and children), and the Japanese monk Kukai.
On the 8th day of every month (Yakushi-nichi), a ceremony to pray for a good harvest and good medicine is held in the Yakushi-do Hall.
Blessings: Longevity, academic success
Location: 527 Yama-no-uchi, Yumesaki-cho, Himeji, Hyogo
Phone number: 079-338-0105

[No. 4 Shofuku-ji Temple (Bishamonten, god of war)]
This temple is a branch temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect, founded in 1644 by head priest Taibo during the reign of Emperor Go-Komyo.
The temple was known as Jizo-in at that time, but it was moved to this location in 1751 and renamed Shofuku-ji Temple.
Its principle object of worship is a standing Jizo bodhisattva, and the deity Bishamonten is enshrined as a side deity.
Blessings: Prayer for victory and academic success
Location: 442 Yama-no-uchi, Yumesaki-cho, Himeji, Hyogo
Phone number: 079-338-0146

[No. 5 Rinzai-ji Temple (Daikokuten, god of agriculture and commerce)]
Rinzai-ji Temple belongs to the Myoshin-ji school of the Rinzai Sect of Buddhism. It was founded in 1379 by Master Beppo Daishu, who was invited from Kyoto by Akamatsu Yoshinori, a lord of Harima. Beppo was given the title of ”Enko Kokushi" (a nationally-honored master) by Emperor Go-Kameyama of the 14th century Southern Court.
Later, the temple's fortunes declined due to wars in the Tensho period (1573-1592), but the main hall was rebuilt in 1675 by Matsudaira Naonori, lord of Himeji Castle.
The temple has valuable treasures such as a muhoto pagoda of the tomb of the temple's founder (a prefecturally-designated important cultural property), a Hokyo-in pagoda for Yoshinori Akamatsu, and a white porcelain statue of Kannon, dedicated to the feudal lord Naonori Matsudaira.
Blessings: Bountiful harvest, love and nurturing of children
Location: 468-4 Shinjo, Yumemae-cho, Himeji, Hyogo
Phone number: 079-336-0198

[No. 6 Renge-ji Temple (Ebisu, god of prosperity, commerce, and fishing)]
This temple belongs to the Tendai sect of Buddhism and is said to have been founded by the priest Ennin during the Tencho period (824-833).
Renge-ji Temple's principal image of worship, Jizo bodhisattva, is formed from black stone, seated on the statue base, small but splendid.
A statue of eleven-faced Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) is enshrined on the right side of the inner sanctuary of the main hall.
Blessings: Prosperity in business, good harvest
Location: 291 Sugi-no-uchi, Yumezaki-cho, Himeji, Hyogo
Phone number: 079-336-0818

[No. 7 Shokai-ji Temple (Benzaiten, goddess of beauty and the arts)]
This is a temple of the Tendai sect, founded by head priest Tokudo in 716.
It flourished during the Muromachi period (1336-1573) and was patronized by the Akamatsu clan, who ruled Harima Province (part of modern-day Hyogo Prefecture), and the Miki clan, lords of Aga Castle.
The main hall and other structures were rebuilt by both families in 1440.
After the downfall of both families, Shokai-ji Temple deteriorated and fell into disrepair, but in 1658, the monk Shirin restored the main hall, and the Kinugasa and Aruga clans rebuilt the main hall and other structures, which were completed in 1665.
The Benten-do was moved from the center of the Miyaoki neighborhood in 1975.
Blessings: Prosperity in business, good harvest, and academic success
Location: 812 Miyaoki, Yumezaki-cho, Himeji, Hyogo
Phone number: 090-1483-8586