Virtual Ishikari 33 Kannon Pilgrimage ---An Endangered Pilgrimage---

 

     Ishikari 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was organized along the Ishikari River in the northern half of the Ishikari Plain.  In the southern half, the plain has Sapporo.  But the northern half is rapidly losing population.  Villages have been deserted, and the temples have been out of business.  JR Sassho Line, which used to run along the right bank of the Ishikari River, was to be taken out of service in May 7, 2020, but, due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the last service was moved forward to April 17, without any good-bye ceremony.

Virtual Ishikari 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #12 Unkai-ji Temple

     Unkai-ji Temple belongs to the Pure Land School of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism.  Its main deity is, as the matter of course, Amitabha.  It is not recorded whether the temple has an Avalokitesvara statue or not.   

Address: 2 Chome 6-5 Myojincho, Takikawa, Hokkaido 073-0032

Phone: 0125-23-2893

Virtual Ishikari 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Shoko-ji Temple

     Shoko-ji Temple belongs to the Sanmonto School of the True Pure Land Sect of Pure Land Buddhism.  The Sanmonto School is very minor.  The distribution of its member temples is very limited  almost in Fukui and Sabae Cities, Fukui Prefecture.  The settlers around Shoko-ji Temple might have come from the area.

     The main deity of the temple is supposed to be Amitabha.  It is not recorded whether the temple has an Avalokitesvara statue or not.   

Address: 35-4 NakamuraUtashinai, Hokkaido 073-0406

Phone: 0125-42-2260