Kannon-ji, Buddhist temple in Sakurai, Japan
Kannon-ji sits on Mount Otowa at roughly 600 meters elevation and comprises several wooden structures with curved roofs, stone pagodas, and an old ginkgo tree in the temple garden. The complex spreads across different levels connected by stairs and paths that open views onto the surrounding woodland.
Shinyu founded the site in 749 as a place for meditation and prayer in the remote mountain region. Over the centuries, affiliation shifted from the Hosso school to the Tendai branch and finally to the Yuzu Nembutsu tradition.
The name of the temple refers to Kannon, a deity of mercy whose statue visitors find in the main hall. Pilgrims bring small wooden tablets and hang them in the halls to make their wishes visible.
The grounds can be reached by a mountain road that winds through forest and switchbacks and can be slippery especially when wet. Guests have the option to stay overnight in simple rooms and try vegetarian meals prepared according to Buddhist rules.
A spring within the temple grounds provides clear water that visitors have long said has healing power for eye problems. Some people wash their face with it or fill small bottles to take the water home.
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