Engyo-ji is the great mountain temple of western Honshu, founded in 966 and spread across a wooded ridge north-west of the city. The ropeway from Shoshazan-guchi lifts you above the trees to a hilltop world of cedar-shaded paths, vermillion shrines, and three enormous wooden halls — the Maniden hanging on stilts over a ravine in a manner that recalls Kiyomizu in Kyoto. It is far less visited than Kyoto's temples and a much quieter experience.
Plan on most of an afternoon. Bus 8 from Himeji Station runs out to the ropeway base; from the top station it is a twenty-minute walk through the forest to the main halls. Eat something before you go up — the temple has a small vegetarian restaurant but options are limited.