Senkoji Temple, founded in 806, is a Shingon sect of Buddhism and a symbol of Onomichi.
The founder was the most famous monk in Japan, Kōbō Daishi (saint) or Kūkai (monk).
Midway up the mountain on a cliff top, the vermilion-lacquered main hall constructed using the overhang method, or butaizukuri, and the same vermilion-lacquered dragon palace style—ryūgūzukuri—bell tower are famous.
The main hall is Onomichi’s No. 1 scenic spot from which you can see the city of Onomichi, the Seto Inland Sea, and the islands below.
On the temple grounds are various intriguing large rocks.
One such example is a rock called tsuzumiiwa, or hand drum rock,. that makes mysterious sounds when struck with a hammer; or tamanoiwa—a 15-meter-high rock with a shiny ball on its top that is said to have once illuminated the sea at night.
Tamanoiwa now has artificial balls that emit red, yellow, and green light and glow at night; not very tasteful, frankly.
Visitors can also try their hand at ascending the chains hanging from the megaliths (¥100 yen).
