Ryounji Temple Ruins

Located in a rural setting outside the city center, Ryounji Temple was built by Ouchi Yoshioki (1477–1529), one of the heads of the Ouchi clan that ruled Yamaguchi in the middle ages. After the Ouchi clan’s demise, the temple was abandoned. The remains of stonework, built with huge stones said to have been for the main gate, are three meters high and over 60 meters long. Given its enormous size, it is thought that the temple also functioned as a fortress during emergencies. Nearby is a small stone pagoda said to be the grave of Ouchi Yoshioki.