Virtual Kako County Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #8 Yakushi-do Hall

 

The Mystery of the 8th Station of the Kako County Bando 33-Kannon Pilgrimage: A Historical and Geographical Hypothesis

     The exact location of the Yakushi-do (the 8th station of the Kako County Bando 33-Kannon Pilgrimage) remains unknown, except for the record that it once existed in the Nishi-Futami area of Futami-cho, Akashi City. Interestingly, while the neighboring Higashi-Futami area hosts Kannor-ji Temple of the "Kako County Saigoku Pilgrimage," Nishi-Futami has no stations belonging to that particular network. This leads to the hypothesis that the "Bando" designation was specifically allocated to Nishi-Futami to bridge this spiritual gap. While Higashi-Futami does have a prominent temple called Yakushi-ji, it is highly unlikely to be a clerical error for the Nishi-Futami station, given the distinct geographical records.

     To trace the now-lost Yakushi-do in Nishi-Futami, local communal cemeteries serve as a crucial clue. While the Itoku-in Nishi Cemetery can be ruled out due to its direct association with Itoku-in Temple itself, the adjacent Nishi-Futami Nishi Cemetery stands as a potential candidate. However, because both are located very close to the coast, it is highly probable that these cemeteries were newly established on reclaimed land as Futami-cho underwent rapid urbanization and population growth in the modern era.

     A far more compelling candidate is the site around Kaminishi Sakura Park, where the Kaminishi Cemetery is said to have existed. Although the cemetery cannot be confirmed on modern Google Maps, the "Kaminishi Koseikan" (a community center) stands nearby. In Japanese rural history, it was incredibly common during the post-war high economic growth period for dilapidated, priestless village halls (O-do) to be demolished and replaced by public community centers. Therefore, it is highly plausible that the Kaminishi Koseikan was built on the former grounds of a religious facility—specifically, the lost Yakushi-do.

     This hypothesis sheds light on the structural differences between the two pilgrimage networks in the Kako district. The "Kako County Saigoku Pilgrimage" comprises relatively large, well-established temples that survived the ages. In contrast, the "Kako County Bando Pilgrimage," while fully active during the Taisho era (1912–1926), likely included many smaller, village-level religious facilities. These modest structures were subsequently lost under the waves of post-war modernization and social change.

Yakushi-ji Temple

Address: Higashifutami Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0092

Itoku-in Temple

Address: Nishifutami-943 Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0094

Phone: 078-942-1184

Kannon-ji Temple

Address: 1643 Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0092

Phone: 078-942-1480

Itokuin Nishi Cemetery

Address: Nishifutami Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0094

Nishifutaminishi Cemetery

Address: Nishifutami-1258 Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0094

Nishifutamisakura Park

Address: 249-7 Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0094

Kaminishi Community Center

Address: 515 Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0094

Phone: 0789422015