Sojiji is a renowned temple and holy site number 22 of the Saikoku 33 pilgrimage sites. It is also a temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect of Buddhism founded in Heian era by Fujiwara no Yamakage. Fujiwara was known by aristocrats of the era as "the father of Hochodo" and the "god of cooking." Motivated to return a favor to a great tortoise that saved his life in childhood, after his father had spared the same tortoise earlier, Yamakage founded the temple in 886. The principal object of worship enshrined within is a many-armed Kannon statue standing atop a tortoise. The temple holds a Yamakage-ryu Hocho-shiki ceremony every year on April 18th, in which the master chef prepares a fish using only chopsticks and a knife, never touching it. The temple grounds also feature a Hocho-zuka butcher knife altar, where worshippers pray to improve at cooking and make offerings of used butcher knives.