Chōkyū-ji, Nagoya

Chōkyū-ji is a Buddhist temple featuring a main hall with a hip-and-gable roof design characteristic of Kamakura period architecture. Multiple smaller temples and structures dot the grounds, creating a complex that rewards slow exploration.

A local ruler named Mayumi Takeyumi commissioned the temple's founding in the Nara period, with Priest Gyoki overseeing its construction. The site developed into a significant place of worship throughout the centuries that followed.

Visitors come to see an eleven-faced Kannon statue made from a single piece of wood, a representation that draws pilgrims seeking compassion and protection. The statue remains a focal point for prayer and devotion on the temple grounds.

The temple grounds are open to visitors during regular hours, though wearing appropriate footwear is wise since the paths can be uneven. Budget time to walk through different areas at a relaxed pace rather than rushing through the site.

The main hall holds the designation of National Treasure and contains a sacred relic hidden within the Kannon statue itself. Scholars and enthusiasts study this temple specifically for such hidden sacred objects it preserves.