Virtual Ika 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Gensho-ji Temple

     Gensho-an Temple used to belong to the Shingon Sect of Buddhism.  It became a branch temple of Toju-in Temple, #30 and the northernmost member temple of Ika 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, by the mid 15th century, and converted to the Soto Sect.

     There used to be more temples around the area: Saifuku-an, Eiden-an, Jizai-an, Zenshu-an, Gintetsu-an, Soshin-an, Joju-an Temples as well as Genshi-an.  Those small temples became out of business one by one after the Meiji Restoration, and were finally consolidated into Genshi-ji Temple.  Accordingly, the temple has surprisingly many Buddhist statues.

     There used to be Churin-ji Temple, which became out of business.  The statue of Arya Avalokitesvar in Genshi-ji is said to have belonged to Churin-ji.