岩屋堂観音堂, Buddhist temple in Myōritsu, Niigata Prefecture, Japan
Iwayado Kannon-do is a Buddhist temple nestled against a massive rock formation and surrounded by ancient keyaki trees and stone paths within dense forest. The building and its grounds blend with the natural rock face that forms its backdrop.
The temple was founded in 702 by the Buddhist monk Taicho and gained major importance when it became the first station of the Echigo 33 Kannon Pilgrimage Route in 1256. This designation made it a crucial stop for pilgrims traveling through the region.
People visit this place to seek spiritual blessings and participate in age-old Buddhist practices that remain central to the site today. You will see pilgrims moving through the temple grounds following customs that shape how the space is used and experienced.
The site is about 20 minutes on foot from Nadachi Station and offers free parking for visitors. Stone paths on the grounds make walking to the main temple and viewing the rock formation straightforward.
Inside the temple grounds there is a large natural stone called Kobo's Inkstone Rock that displays Sanskrit characters. These markings are believed to have been inscribed by the revered Kobo Daishi himself.
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