title: Mount Matsuo
text: # Mount Matsuo
  
  Mount Matsuo (松尾山, Matsuo-yama) is a 687-metre-high (2,254 ft) mountain in Sasayama, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. Another name is Mount Kosen-ji, literally, "Mountain of Kosen-ji."
  
  ## Religion and History
  
  Mount Matsuo is one of the major objects of worships for the people in this area. On this mountain, a Buddhist temple named ‘Kosen-ji’ was established in 645 by Hodo Sennin. This temple was re-established by Denkyo Taishi in the 9th century. The temple was burned by Akechi Mitsuhide in the 16th century, but re-established again by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. In the Edo period, it is said that there were 28 monk houses in the mountain. Kosen-ji was also destroyed as a result of the Shinbutsu bunri, literally, Shinto-Buddhism-separation.
  
  Sakai Castle once stood on the top of this mountain; however, it was destroyed after the decline of the Sakai clan.
  
  ## Access
  
  * Furuichi Station of Fukuchiyama Line
  * Sasayamaguchi Station of Fukuchiyama Line
  
  ## Gallery
  
  * Jizō statues among the ruins of Kosen-ji
  * Other Jizō statues among the ruins of Kosen-ji
  * Ruins of Kosen-ji
  