Komyo-ji, Buddhist temple in Hiratsuka, Japan
Komyo-ji is a Buddhist temple in Hiratsuka featuring wooden buildings set among gardens, arranged in the traditional Japanese temple layout. The structures show carved details and roof ornaments typical of the temple architecture from its period.
The temple was founded during the Kamakura period and became the seventh stop on the Bando Sanjusan-Kasho pilgrimage route devoted to Kannon. This pilgrimage circuit connected sacred sites across Eastern Japan and established its role in a larger spiritual journey.
The name refers to divine light and compassion, reflecting the temple's dedication to Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Throughout the grounds, visitors notice signs of this veneration in flower offerings, quiet corners for reflection, and the way people move through the space with quiet respect.
The grounds are open throughout the year and reachable by bus directly from Hiratsuka Station. Visitors arriving by car will find parking available on the temple grounds.
The temple houses a particular form of Sho Kannon with multiple arms, part of a pilgrimage network stretching over 1,300 kilometers. This specific representation draws pilgrims who follow the entire circuit across the region.
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