Anraku-ji, Buddhist temple in Yoshimi, Japan
Anraku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Yoshimi, Saitama Prefecture, with a three-story pagoda and guardian deity statues on its grounds. At the center of the complex stands a principal statue of the Kannon Bodhisattva, one of the most venerated figures in Japanese Buddhism.
The temple was founded in 806, during the Daido period, by the monk Gyoki. It was later expanded by the military commander Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, who left a lasting mark on the site.
The temple is station 11 on the Bandō 33-temple pilgrimage and station 75 on the Kantō 88-temple pilgrimage. Pilgrims walking these routes still pass through regularly, giving the site a steady rhythm of quiet devotion throughout the year.
The nearest train station is Higashi-Matsuyama on the Tobu Tojo Line, from where a taxi brings you to the temple. On-site parking is available for those arriving by car.
Every June 18th, the doors to the principal deity open for a ceremony called Yakuyoke Asakannon, during which visitors receive protective amulets known as bennada. These amulets are only distributed on this single day each year.
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