Virtual Kako County Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #9 Kannon-ji Temple

 

     Little is known about Kannon-ji Temple, the 9th site of the Kako County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, except that it was once located in present-day Yoshino, Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo (675-0017).

     It remains uncertain when the Kannon-do hall was built, or whether it originally stood in Tennoji Village or Hosoda Village—both of which were located in Kako County, Harima Province. Historical records first mention Hosoda Village in 1515 and Tennoji Village in 1603. Judging from old descriptions, Hosoda Village occupied the western part of today's Yoshino area, while Tennoji Village occupied the eastern part. In 1867, Tennoji and Hosoda Villages merged to form Yoshino Village.

     Today, the Yoshino Community Center sits in the western half of the Yoshino area, accompanied by a cemetery, a stone stupa, and a small hall. Meanwhile, the Yoshinonakaike Cemetery is located in the eastern half and also features a small hall. Some local accounts suggest that the hall near the community center is called "Yoshino Kannon-do," which might be the last remaining vestige of Kannon-ji Temple. However, there is a minor possibility that the hall within the Yoshinonakaike Cemetery is the actual site. Furthermore, it is also plausible that Kannon-ji Temple originally functioned as a shrine-temple (jingu-ji) for either Hachiman Shrine or Otoshi Shrine.

Yoshinonakaike Cemetery

Address: Yoshino-955 Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0017

Yoshino Stone Stupa

Address: Yoshino-1027 Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0017

Yoshino Community Center

Address: Yoshino Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0017

Hachiman Shrine

Address: Yoshino-1011 Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0017

Otoshi Shrine

Address: Yoshino-706 Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0017