Osaka 33 Kannon Pilgrimage in My Order (1)

      It was early in the morning on the third day of the New Year.  I drove up along the Yodo River from Yodoyabashi, and turned north to visit Zendo-ji Temple.  It was my first temple among the Osaka 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, although it was listed as the #8 temple of the pilgrimage.  Its temple gate was closed, and I saw and prayed to its main hall over the fence of the gate.

     After the #8, I visited the Osaka 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Ritto-ji Temple, which was just across the street.  A "nameplate" stone statue in front of its gate told me it was the temple, but its appearance told me nothing about Buddhism.

     The #10 deity of the Osaka 33 Kannon Pilgrimage used to be enshrined in Tamatsukuri-Inari Shrine.  It was moved to Ryuka-ji Temple presumably due to the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868 and also because of the movement to abolish Buddhism and to destroy Buddhist images at the beginning of Meiji Period.  No monument in front of the temple, however, tells it enshrines #10 Avalokitesvara statue.

Zendo-ji Temple

Address: 2-5 YorikimachiKita Ward, Osaka, 530-0036

Phone: 06-6351-1881

Ritto-ji Temple

Address: 1-7 Yorikimachi, Kita Ward, Osaka 530-0036

Phone: 06-6351-5639

Ryukai-ji Temple

Address: 1 Chome-3-1 Doshin, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0035

Phone: 06-6351-5795