Fudoin Temple

Fudo-in Temple is one of the Ankoku-ji temples established by the Ashikaga clan in the mid-14th century. However, the exact date when a temple was first built on this site remains unknown. Based on the style of the seated Yakushi Nyorai statue that was once enshrined in the main hall, it is believed that a temple complex already existed here during the Heian period. The temple buildings were destroyed by fire during battles between the Ouchi and Takeda clans in the Daiei era. The temple was later rebuilt by Ekei, a diplomatic monk who served the Mori clan. Highly trusted by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Ekei was granted an exceptional fief of 15,000 koku, allowing him to develop the temple into a major religious institution comparable to leading temples in central Japan at the time. After Ekei met an untimely death following the Battle of Sekigahara, Yuchin, a prayer monk for Fukushima Masanori, became the head priest. At that time, the temple changed from Zen Buddhism to Shingon Buddhism, enshrining Fudo Myoo as its principal image and becoming known as Fudo-in. The National Treasure Golden Hall is said to have been relocated by Ekei from Yamaguchi in Suo Province, where it was originally built by the Ouchi clan. It is the largest surviving example of Kara-style architecture and conveys the full scale of an authentic medieval Buddhist hall. From JR Hiroshima Station, the temple is about 20 minutes by bus, getting off at Fudo-in-mae. Alternatively, transfer from JR Shin-Hakushima Station to the Astram Line and walk about 2 minutes from Fudo-in-mae Station.