The Terashita Kannon Temple is said to have been built by a monk named Gyoki during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). It is the first temple on the Oshu-Nanbu-Nukanobu’s 33 temple pilgrimage route. The temple is dedicated to the Buddhist Bodhisattva of compassion Kannon (in Japanese or Guanyin in Chinese).
Located on the grounds of the temple is also the Ushioyama Shrine. The shrine & temple complex is an interesting example of the sharing of grounds between temples and shrines, and one that is not often seen in present-day due to the separation of shrines and temples by the Meiji government in the late 1800s.
Located on the grounds of the temple is also the Ushioyama Shrine. The shrine & temple complex is an interesting example of the sharing of grounds between temples and shrines, and one that is not often seen in present-day due to the separation of shrines and temples by the Meiji government in the late 1800s.
The people of the area have revered the shrine & temple as sacred places for centuries. The temple’s yearly festival takes place on May 3rd and is very popular. The temple’s bell can be heard ringing all day long as people bustle in and out of the grounds, praying for everything from recovery from illnesses to the safety of their families.
The Site of the Terashita Pagoda
The Terashita Five-Story Pagoda was erected in August of 1745 under the direction of a Buddhist priest named Genryo Shinyou. It was built on top of a 210 m (689 ft) tall hill close to the Tomyo-Do, to the west of the Kannon Hall. The pagoda was around 12m (39 ft) tall and could be seen standing on the mountain as a magnificent red pillar, even by sailors at sea.
The ceremony that was held upon the pagoda’s completion was said to be a grand event. It was attended by both the monks of the Terashita Temple and the laypeople of the Hachinohe Domain. The pagoda was destroyed by a storm in 1913, and all that remains today is its stone foundations. It was said to be the smallest out-door five-story in Japan before it was destroyed.
Information
- Address:
- Terashita-8 Akabonai, Hashikami, Sannohe District, Aomori
- Phone:
- 0178-88-3987
- Access:
- By Car: 50 min from Hachinohe IC
- Parking:
- Available
