Iwama-dera, Buddhist temple in Otsu, Japan
Iwama-dera sits on Mount Iwama at about 443 meters elevation, featuring wooden buildings and stone pathways set among maple and cherry trees. The temple's traditional structures blend naturally into the forested landscape of the mountain.
Buddhist master Taicho founded the temple in 722 after healing Empress Genmei through his spiritual practices and meditation. This founding story ties the site to early religious developments in the region.
The temple serves as the 12th station along the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route, drawing Buddhist practitioners who come to pray and connect with this important spiritual site. Pilgrims walk these paths as part of a journey that spans sacred locations across the country.
You can reach the temple by car in about 15 minutes from the Seta interchange of the Meishin Expressway, or take a bus from JR Ishiyama Station. Plan for walking on natural mountain paths once you arrive, as the temple sits at elevation among the forest.
The main Kannon statue, known as the Sweating Kannon, is surrounded by local stories that it leaves its altar each night to help people in distress. This local legend adds a special quality to the site for believers who visit.
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