Kin Kannon-ji, Buddhist temple in Kin, Okinawa, Japan

Kin Kannon-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kin, Okinawa, built with a curved Irimoya-zukuri roof and an elevated foundation resting on traditional wooden beams. The grounds hold the main hall along with underground spaces and several other sacred structures arranged around it.

According to tradition, the temple was founded in the 16th century by the monk Nisshū, who set out from Kii Province (present-day Wakayama) toward Tang China, or by another account to reach the Western Pure Land through the sea. Shipwrecked, he drifted to Funaya (Tomihana Port) in Kin, Ryukyu Kingdom, made a limestone cave his base for preaching, and founded the temple. The cave is called Nisshū-dō. The current buildings date from a 1942 reconstruction after a 1934 fire.

The temple belongs to the Koyasan Shingon school, and its mountain name is Kinpuzan; its main image is Sho Kannon. The cave where Nisshu taught is called Nisshu-do, and the Fukugi trees in the grounds were designated a Kin Town cultural property on 24 December 1991.

The grounds have uneven surfaces and several steps, so sturdy footwear is a good idea before exploring. Give yourself enough time to visit both the main hall and the underground areas, as they are separate stops on the site.

The cave on the grounds, called Nisshū-dō, is where the priest Nisshū is said to have based his preaching; it was registered as a national Registered Monument on 17 February 2026. The main hall, rebuilt in 1942 after a 1934 fire, was designated a Kin Town cultural property on 1 June 1984.