One of the Japan Heritage component cultural properties of Kurashiki City is “Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple.”
The Kurashiki Japan Heritage Trip introduces it as follows.
Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple
During the Edo period, it received generous patronage from the Ikeda family, lords of the Okayama Domain, and flourished as a destination for dual pilgrimages with Kotohira-gu Shrine in Sanuki. In the temple town, Kokura-ori and Sanada cords were especially popular.
It is designated an Important Cultural Property (building) by Okayama Prefecture.Source: Kurashiki Japan Heritage Trip
At the historic Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple, founded about 1,200 years ago in the Nara period by the Buddhist priest Gyoki, new initiatives are being pursued alongside the preservation of its long history, including souvenirs featuring Fuchan, the temple cat and a temple where flowers can be enjoyed all year round.
Along with its historic buildings, this article introduces the current initiatives of Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple.
The information presented was current when this article was published in October 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple
Located on Mt. Yuga in Kojima, Kurashiki City, Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple (hereafter, “Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple”) has a vast precinct containing a variety of historic buildings, including the Main Hall, the main temple, and the guest hall.
First, we will introduce some of its representative buildings.
Main Hall
The Main Hall was completed in 1998.
The temple office on the first floor handles various requests, and the second floor houses a prayer hall where prayers are held daily.
Passing under the sign that reads “Mt. Yuga,” you enter a spacious, open area.
At the back is the reception desk for Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple. To the left are enshrined Yakuyoke Fudo Myoo, Aizen Myoo, and Dakiniten. The spacious, open setting makes it possible to pray in a peaceful frame of mind.
Yakuyoke Fudo Myoo is the messenger of “the Gongen of Yuga, who always answers those who seek help” (in place of the normally hidden principal image).
Pray in the following order:
Bow once → put your hands together → clap twice → make a wish → bow once
The seated statue of Yakuyoke Fudo Myoo was completed in 2007 and was reportedly the largest wooden seated statue in Japan at the time.
Go up to the second floor from the left side of the reception desk and turn right to find a window where you can view Yakuyoke Fudo Myoo at eye level. We recommend it because you can see Yakuyoke Fudo Myoo and the solemn inner sanctuary from an angle not usually accessible to visitors.
Go up to the second floor and proceed to the back on the left to find a large hall used for prayers.
Photography is not permitted in the large hall
Facing the inner sanctuary, the principal image, the Eleven-Faced Kannon, is enshrined on the right; Yugasan Daigongen, the guardian deity, is in the center; and Kobo Daishi, founder of the Shingon school, is on the left.
Prayer services are available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
As services may be unavailable at certain times due to temple duties, please call before visiting.
Main Temple and Guest Hall (Prefecturally Designated Important Cultural Property)
Next, we will introduce the main temple and guest hall.
The main temple also contains the Medicine Buddha Room, where Yakushi Nyorai is enshrined, and the Fudo Room, where Fudo Myoo is enshrined.
The guest hall adjoining the main temple was completed during the Kansei era (around 1700) as a lodging and resting place, donated by Lord Ikeda of the Bizen Domain.
It is the largest building in Okayama Prefecture, with a multi-story irimoya-style roof covered in traditional tiles.
Including the connecting passage and the formal entrance gate, it is designated an Important Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture.
The Willow Room in the guest hall features a painting of bamboo and cranes by Maruyama Okyo. The Shishi Room in the connecting passage has twelve cedar sliding doors painted with lions and peonies by Shibata Gitou, among other impressive works.
Behind the guest hall, on the mountainside, is a magnificent garden spreading across the slope, where visitors can enjoy beautiful trees and flowers throughout the seasons.
Gongen-do Hall (Inner Sanctuary)
At the back of the guest hall is the inner sanctuary of Yugasan Daigongen.
To reach the inner sanctuary, climb 88 steep stone steps for warding off misfortune.
It is said that in 1868, the Yuga Daigongen enshrined there was moved to the Main Hall because worshippers found it difficult to visit.
Yuga Daiden (Main Hall)
Yuga Daiden (Main Hall) was completed in 2022.
It is said that the long-held wishes of the previous head priest came to fruition: to build a hall enshrining the temple’s principal image, the Eleven-Headed Kannon; to make it possible for temple parishioners to worship; and to create a place where parishioners could hold memorial services and Buddhist ceremonies.
Unfortunately, the Eleven-Headed Kannon is a hidden Buddha and is not normally on view.
It was last unveiled in 2007, and is unveiled once every 33 years, so the next unveiling is scheduled for 2040.
Yuga Daiden (Main Hall) stands on elevated ground to the left of the Main Hall.
Looking back from here toward the Main Hall, you can see the tahoto pagoda in the distance.
Tahoto Pagoda (Prefectural Important Cultural Property)
The tahoto pagoda is one of the largest in the prefecture and was rebuilt in 1843.
The altar in the inner sanctuary houses the following Five Wisdom Buddhas.
- Dainichi Nyorai
- Ashuku Nyorai
- Hosho Nyorai
- Amida Nyorai
- Fukujoju Nyorai
Kannon Hall (Prefectural Important Cultural Property)
Kannon Hall was built during the Kyoho era (1716–1736).
It is one of the largest surviving temple and shrine buildings in Kurashiki City, and is a representative structure of the mid-Edo period, measuring five bays along its long side (about 9.1 m) and four bays along its short side (about 7.3 m).
The Eleven-Headed Kannon, the principal image of Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple, was once enshrined here.
New initiatives at Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple
Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple is undertaking the following new initiatives.
- “Souvenirs featuring Fuu-chan, the temple cat” to delight cat lovers
- “Sakura Cat Fund”
- Care of the grounds as a “temple where flowers can be enjoyed all year round”
Other events planned include the “Wind Chime Festival” starting June 1, 2025, and the “2nd Star Kannon” on December 7, 2025.
When the writer visited Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple in early July, the Wind Chime Festival (held from June 1 until around September) was underway. Colorful wind chimes, including cat-shaped ones, hung from the eaves of the water pavilion at the Main Hall, ringing out with cool, clear tones.
The adorable cat-shaped wind chimes inspired by Fuu-chan, the temple cat, catch the eye.
Here, we introduce a selection of initiatives, mainly those related to Fuu-chan and the other temple cats.
Who is Fuu-chan, the temple cat?
Fuu-chan is a male cat who wandered into the temple about 10 years ago, and is Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple’s resident cat.
The writer was lucky enough to meet him in front of the temple office on the first floor of the Main Hall.
As if he understood that he was Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple’s resident cat, Fuu-chan stayed calm and posed for photos without running away when the camera was pointed at him.
Several cats are said to come and go around the temple grounds, but Fuu-chan alone is specially allowed to enter and leave the temple office.
Here are the “Fuu-chan instructions.”
- A boy estimated to be about 10 years old
- Not fond of people who speak loudly or children who make a fuss
- Likes having his head petted
- Basically, just watch over him♫
- (Caution) He doesn’t like having his belly or paws touched. He will bite if you touch a spot he doesn’t like.
Souvenirs unique to Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple
Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple distributes amulets and other items at the amulet office opposite the Main Hall.
Recommended: Fuu-chan merchandise
Fuu-chan, the temple cat, also features on a range of recommended merchandise.
For example, there is a wide selection of sutra books featuring Fuu-chan as the star (the equivalent of goshuin stamp books at shrines).
Along with the an-koro mochi unique to Mt. Yuga, the “Fuu-chan dorayaki,” a Mont Blanc-flavored dorayaki with a hint of rum, is also popular.
This new product was created through a collaboration with “Nakaya Muneyoshi” in Tamano City, led by younger members of the temple.
This amulet is called the Good Fortune Praying Cat. It is not Fuu-chan, but the cat’s adorable pose, standing on two legs and earnestly praying for good fortune, is sure to charm you.
A wide variety of amulets
The amulet office also offers a wide range of different amulets.
These include Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple’s original health and work amulets.
The adorable Safe Childbirth Amulet and Conception Amulet are also recommended as good-luck charms.
Sakura Cat Donations
Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple is collecting donations for Sakura Cats.
Sakura Cats
Cats that have undergone sterilization as an effective way to reduce the number of cats euthanized. As a mark of the surgery, the tips of their ears are cut to resemble cherry blossom petals.
A temple where you can enjoy flowers all year round
At Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple, you can see a variety of flowers throughout the year. The main flowers to enjoy in each season are as follows.
- January: wintersweet, Corylopsis
- February: camellias, sasanqua
- March: plum blossoms, camellias, daffodils, Japanese cornel
- April: Yoshino cherry, weeping cherry, mountain cherry, flowering peach, white magnolia, Japanese cornel, spirea, Japanese azalea, satsuki azalea
- May: Japanese azalea, satsuki azalea, irises, autumn leaves
- June: sal tree, hydrangeas, irises
- July: hydrangeas, crape myrtle, lotus, morning glories
- August: lotus, crape myrtle, morning glories, fringed iris
- October: autumn leaves, enkianthus, bush clover
- November: autumn leaves, enkianthus
- December: sasanqua, nandina, winter-blooming camellias, and more
In addition to the history of Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple and Fuchan, be sure to take note of the flowers that add color to the temple throughout the year.
“Fortune-Telling Omikuji” popular with buyers from outside the prefecture
Finally, we’ll introduce the “Kaiun Suimei Omikuji,” which is popular with buyers from outside the prefecture. It is a rare omikuji available at only three locations nationwide, including Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple, and the only place in the prefecture that offers it. It has been available for 15 years already.
Based on ancient Chinese fortune-telling, it uses 514,800 data patterns to represent a person’s destiny and fortune, determined by their date of birth and gender from among 100 possible fortunes.
The Kaiun Suimei Omikuji can be drawn at the temple office on the first floor of the Main Hall (300 yen each).
You can also order it online here (500 yen each, including shipping), so it is easy for people who live far away to get one.
This omikuji gives your fortune for one year, from the first day of spring that year until the first day of spring the following year (February 4 to February 3 of the following year), so be careful not to buy it more than once.
From the Writer
Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple offers historic buildings, temple cat Fuchan, a variety of flowers that brighten the grounds, and refined souvenirs to enjoy.
- We hope you will pray in peace and tranquility.
- We hope you will take the feeling of having prayed home with you.
- We want to create a more refined space for prayer.
We invite you to follow temple cat Fuchan and pray in peace and tranquility at this historic ancient temple.
Articles about Kurashiki City’s Japan Heritage
Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple, a Special Head Temple Information
| Name | Yugasan Rendai-ji Temple, a Special Head Temple |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Mt. Yuga |
| Sect | Omuro School of Shingon Buddhism |
| Location | 2855 Yuga, Kojima, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-477-6222 |
| Parking | Available ・Free parking ・Capacity: 300 cars ・20 large buses ・A 5-minute walk from the parking lot to the Main Hall |
| Principal images | Eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva Yuga Daigongen |
| Blessing | Protection from misfortune |
| Goshuin (offering for sutra copying) | Sutra copying: 300 yen Star Kannon: special sutra copying, 800 yen ※Limited quantity Fuchan in the style of the Chojugiga scrolls: 1,000 yen ※Limited quantity Cut-paper sutra copying: standing statue of Fudo Myoo, 1,000 yen ※Limited quantity |
| Visiting hours | 【Visiting hours】 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 【Prayer reception】 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (once every hour) The noon session is not available from April through November. As some times may be unavailable due to temple duties, please call to inquire before visiting. |
| Closing days | None Guest Hall visits only: irregular Please call to inquire before visiting. |
| Admission | Guest Hall admission: 400 yen |
| Payment methods for admission and sutra copying |
|
| Restrooms | Western-style toilets, Japanese-style toilets, accessible toilets |
| Website | Yuga Daigongen for Protection from Misfortune, Mt. Yuga |
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Overall height: 7.59 m
Statue height: 3.66 m
Length of the sacred sword it holds: 3 m