Virtual Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage #31 Kannon-in Temple

      About 17 million years ago, or in the Miocene epoch in Neogene period, Chichibu Basin subsided and the sea began to enter, sandstone piled up on the seabed.  The rock face surrounding Kannon-in Temple is the lowest stratum in the Chichibu Basin and is made of sandstone mixed with quartz and feldspar pebbles. It was deposited when the Chichibu Basin sank and the sea began to enter.  You can also see a thin foliage-like layer that shows the traces of water flow on the seabed during deposition.  Stone Buddhas are enshrined in rock caves here and there, and you can feel that the Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage originated from mountain asceticism.

     Hatakeyama Shigetada (1164-1205) found an image of Arya Avalokitesvara, who is the human-figure prototype of the other 6 metamorphoses, in the nest of a hawk.  He enshrined the image in front of the rock face.  Kannon-ji Temple is the westernmost temple among the Chichibu 34 Kannon Pilgrimage and is the most difficult to reach.  The Kannon-do Hall is located halfway up Mt.Kannon, which is about 700 meters above sea level.  There are 296 steps leading up to the temple gate.  From there, you will find the Kannon-doHall, which is housed in a cave.

Address: 2211 Iida, Ogano, Chichibu District, Saitama 368-0111

Phone: 0494-75-3300