成身院, Buddhist temple in Honjō, Japan
Seishinin is a Buddhist temple in Honjō, Saitama Prefecture. It stands on a small hill and includes a rare spiral structure called Sazae-do, which has two outer floors and three inner levels, each housing a different set of Kannon statues.
The temple was founded in 1783 to honor those who died in the eruption of Mount Asama in Shinano Province. The Sazae-do was built as part of this memorial effort, serving as a place to venerate Kannon.
The Sazae-do building at this temple guides visitors along a path they never walk twice. This one-way circuit follows the Buddhist practice of circling sacred statues clockwise.
The temple sits on a hill and is reached by a short walk from the entrance gate, but the inside of the Sazae-do has steep stairs. Comfortable shoes are a good idea, especially if you plan to walk through all three levels of the spiral.
The Sazae-do is one of only a handful of structures of this type still standing in Japan. What makes it unusual is that the ascending and descending paths cross inside the building without ever meeting, so visitors going up and those going down never share the same spot.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
