Awa Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage

     Kannon-do (which is located at 372-5 Hinoki, Fukui, Annan City), the inner shrine of Byodo-ji Temple, is #1 of Awa Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.  Kannon-do is quite far from the main building of Byodo-ji Temple.

     Surprisingly enough, Awa Province had more 33 Kannon pilgrimages: Western Awa 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, Eastern Awa 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, and Awa Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage.  Eastern Awa 33 Kannon, Awa Bando 33 Kannon, and Awa Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimages constituted Awa 100 Kannon Pilgrimage.  The Awa people must have loved Kannon pilgrimages.  No wonder, it was Yamamoto Raku (1845-1927), who was born, grew up, and worked in Awa Province, that newly organized the 33 Kannon pilgrimage all across Hokkaido in 1913, after she retired from her successful business.