Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #31 Nyoi-ji Temple

 

     Nyoi-ji Temple is said to have been founded sometime between the end of the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) and the beginning of the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), ignoring the legend that it was founded by Hermit Hodo.

     In 1339, Oi Tsukasa became the steward samurai of the Gannan Manor and built Ishihajiki Fortress, which later became Tomari Shrine.  Nyoi-ji Temple could have been founded in those days.  In 1375, Tsukasa's 5th son, Isamu, became the head of the family.  His 1st son, Osa, called himself Kimura Gentaro in 1454.  In 1455, Isamu was killed in battle.  The fortress was seized by Yamana Mochitoyo (1404-1473) in 1459, and Gentaro was killed in battle.

     Nyoi-ji Temple is also the 27th station of the Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

 

Address: Kimura-602 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0038

Phone: 079-423-6961

Tomari Shrine

Address: Kimura-658 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0038

Phone: 079-422-4813

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #30 Fukuden-ji Temple

 

     Fukuden-ji Temple is said to have been founded in 606 by Prince Shotoku (574-622).

 Inaya Village was first documented in 1326.  During the Southern and Northern Courts Period (1337-1392) and the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), it received the patronage of the Akamatsu Clan, and it is believed that Akamatsu Norimura (1277-1350) and Akamatsu Masanori (1455-1496) built and renovated the temple buildings.

     It was destroyed by fire during the Warring States Period (1467-1573), and was converted to the Caodong Chan Sect sometime between 1592 and 1596.

     The place name Inaya means Rice Warehouse and the temple name Fukuden means Fortune Fields.  The names suggest what it looked like around the area in ancient times, when the temple was founded.  In the medieval days, the Inaya Fortress was built in the grounds of Fukuden-ji Temple.

     One intriguing mystery surrounding Fukuden-ji is its dual role in local pilgrimage routes: it is designated as both the 30th station of the Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage and the 28th station of the Innami County 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

     Historically, the Kako River formed the natural boundary between Kako County on the left bank and Innami County on the right. Interestingly, Fukuden-ji is not alone—a total of five stations of the Innami County Pilgrimage are located on the left bank today. This strongly indicates that in ancient times, the main stream of the Kako River flowed much further to the east. As the river shifted its course westward over centuries—and was eventually fully straightened in the early 20th century—this entire area was left on the left bank, preserving the memory of the ancient landscape through its sacred pilgrimage sites.

Address: Inaya-607 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0034

Phone: 079-422-5848

Inaya Fortress Site

Address: Inaya-584-1 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0034

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #29 Amida -do Hall

 

     Kakurin-ji Temple’s Jogyo-do Hall is commonly called Amida-do.  The hall is believed to have been built around 1112, at the same time as its twin hall, Taishi-do, was built.

     A Jogyo-do hall is also referred to as a Jogyo-Zanmai-do hall.  Jogyo Zammai is the Buddhist practice in which monks walk around Amidabha for 90 days while chanting Nianfo and thinking of Amidabha in their hearts.  Therefore, the hall is square with Amidabha enshrined in the center, and often has a tented pyramidal roof.

Jogyo-do Hall, Kakurin-ji

Address: Kitazaike-424 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0031

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #28 Jotoku-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Jotoku-ji Temple was founded in Awazu Village, Kako County, Harima Province.  Awazu Village was first documented in Kakurin-ji Temple's list of its land in 1515.  As Jotoku-ji Temple belongs to Shingon sect when Kakurin-ji Temple belongs to Tiantai sect, Jotoku-ji Temple couldn't be founded as a branch of Kakurin-ji Temple. 

Address: Awazu-377 Kakogawacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0039

Phone: 079-422-7695

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #27 Shoko-ji Temple

 

     Shoko-ji Temple was founded during the Muromachi period (1336–1573) in Yamanoue Village, Kako County, Harima Province, though its exact founding date remains unknown. The temple was destroyed by fire in the early Edo period (1603–1867), during which its historical documents were likely lost to ashes. After centuries of natural wear, the main hall was fully rebuilt in 2019.

     Historical records show that Yamanoue Village was part of the Ae Manor (Ae-no-sho) and first appeared in written documents in 1354. Given that the Yamanoue Community Center stands directly adjacent to the temple, this surrounding area is believed to have been the central hub of the village.

Address: Yamanoue-434 Hiraokacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0112

Phone: 079-424-6954

Yamanoue Community Center

Address: Yamanoue-434 Hiraokacho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0112

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #26 Zuio-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Zuio-ji Temple was founded in Furuta Village, Kako County, Harima Province.

     The village was relatively newly developed in the Edo period (1603-1867). In 1654, the region suffered a severe drought through spring and summer; the rice paddies cracked, seedlings withered, and the villagers were left without even enough seed rice for the following spring. Witnessing this devastation, Imazato Denbei (1610–1660) repeatedly surveyed the area on foot, meticulously mapping out water routes, elevations, and existing channels. Armed with his diagrams, he gathered the headmen of 23 neighboring villages to explain the critical need for a new water source. Moved by his presentation, all the headmen signed a petition and pledged their full cooperation.

     Denbei then petitioned Sakakibara Tadatsugu (1605–1665), the lord of the Himeji Domain, for the construction of the Shin'yu Canal. Recognizing the merit, Tadatsugu commissioned Denbei to lead the survey and launched the construction as a domain-sponsored project. The design was finalized by the end of that year, and construction began the following year.

     The project faced immense engineering hurdles, including excavating hard bedrock at Nishinoyama (today's Nishinoyama Kannocho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0007) and Hiokayama, and channeling water under the Kise Riverbed via a buried conduit—even forcing water to flow uphill. Denbei was so committed that he reportedly declared, "If this new canal fails to deliver water, I will gladly accept the death penalty along with my family." He oversaw the site day and night. The domain provided cooked rice for the workforce, which totaled 164,000 laborers, averaging 400 to 500 people per day.

     After 15 months of grueling work, the canal was successfully opened. Deeply impressed, Lord Tadatsugu praised Denbei and asked how he wished to be rewarded. Denbei replied, "Having witnessed such a great blessing, I desire nothing for myself. My only sincere wish is that this new canal flows forever."

     Zuio-ji Temple could have been founded after 1666.

Address: 3 Chome-16-1 Furuta, Harima, Kako District, Hyogo 675-0146

Phone: 079-435-1369

Fukusho-ji Temple

Address: 3 Chome-13-11 Furuta, Harima, Kako District, Hyogo 675-0146

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #25 Muryoju-in Temple

 

     From the age of 19 to 29, Kukai sought out isolated mountain regions and wandered the countryside or from temple to temple.  In 806, he returned from studying in China.  From 810 to 824, he might have gone back and forth between Kyoto and his homeland, Sanuki Province.  On one of those days, he could have visited where Muryoju-ji Temple was later founded.  Amidst a landscape of flourishing old pines and moss-covered rocks, there was a boulder that suddenly emitted a brilliant light; moved by this miraculous sign, he built a thatched hermitage there. The area came to be known as Iwamitsu ("Rock Light") and was later renamed Nozoe.

     The principal image, Amitayus Tathagata (Muryoju Nyorai), is said to be the work of Jyang Juhun, a Buddhist sculptor from Goryeo, created in the 7th century.

     The sacred image had been handed down in the household of Imai Rokuroemon in Nishijima Village, Akashi County, Harima Province. The image repeatedly expressed a desire in dreams to go to Iwamitsu. Eventually, Rokuroemon carried the image on his back and relocated it to Iwamitsu Village.

     Long after Kukai built the hermitage, and Rokuroemon brought the image, the site had fallen into disrepair. Later, Priest Kakuban (1095-1143) visited the site and heard of the miraculous events of the past. In 1103, he restored the hermitage and named it Muryoju-in.

     Subsequently, the temple became a center for the study of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism and a training center for kanjo (consecration/initiation) rituals.

     The temple has 4 woodblocks for the Rishu-kyo (Principle of Wisdom Sutra). The blocks bear an inscription dating them to the 19th year of Bunmei (1487). Signs of wear on the woodblocks suggest they were used extensively for printing, implying that many monks gathered at this temple to study and practice the teachings.

     The Rishu-kyo, formally known as Prajnaparamita-naya-satapancasatika, is a Buddhist esoteric scripture.  In the Shingon Buddhist sects, it is a common practice for ordained priests to chant the Rishu-kyo daily.

Address: 3 Chome-8-16 Nishinozoe, Harima, Kako District, Hyogo 675-0160

Phone: 078-942-3866

Trees in the town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #24 Yakuo-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Yakuo-ji Temple was founded in Futago Village, Kako County, Harima Province.  It was abolished in 1964, in the midst of the Japanese economic miracle after World War II, with its statues and graveyard inherited by Bussho-ji Temple nearby.

Bussho-ji Temple Graveyard

Address: Wakamiyamoto-123 Futago, Harima, Kako District, Hyogo 675-0162

Bussho-ji Temple

Address: 9 Futago, Harima, Kako District, Hyogo 675-0162

Phone: 078-942-2479

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #23 Itoku-in Temple

 

     Kaiun-ji Temple was said to have been founded by Gyoki (668-749) and later revived by Priest Kaiun in 1626 as the shrine temple of Mikuriya Shrine.  The temple had 2 sub-temples (including Itoku-in) and 4 subordinate monastic quarters (including Saizo-bo). During the Meiji era, the anti-Buddhist movement resulted in the closure of most of these Buddhist facilities, leaving only Saizo-bo, which was renamed Itoku-in in 1941.

     The temple also houses the Avalokitesvara statue, which is historically known as "Hosage Kannon" (Sail-Lowering Avalokitesvara) because passing ships would lower their sails to pay their respects. This statue was originally enshrined in a Kannon-do hall located on the beach south of Itoku-in Temple but was moved to the temple itself after the hall burned down.

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

Phone: 078-942-1184

 Mikuriya Shrine

 Address: Higashifutami-1323 Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0092

 Phone: 078-942-3461

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #22 Chotoku-ji Temple

 

     Chotoku-zenji Temple is said to have been founded either in 1574, in 1583, or in 1584 in Higashi-Futami Village, Kako County, Harima Province. The current head priest is the 17th to hold the position.

    The temple gate was erected in 1719.  A massive fire in Higashi-Futami Village in November 1790 destroyed all records, so its detailed history remains unknown. The principal image is Vajrasana, flanked by Ananda and Mahakashyapa, forming a triad.

     Although the temple suffered damage during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake on January 17th, 1995, major renovations, including the reconstruction of the main hall, were completed in May, 2005, resulting in the temple's current state. The temple gate, which was originally located on the south side, was dismantled, repaired, and relocated to the east side. Additionally, the Ragaraja Hall, which enshrined the temple's guardian deity, was partially destroyed in the earthquake and subsequently demolished; the deity is now enshrined in the ihai-do (memorial tablet hall) located behind the main hall. It is rare for Ragaraja to be enshrined as a temple's guardian deity.

Address: Higashifutami-1695 Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0092

Phone: 078-942-1175

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #21 Tokugen-ji Temple

 

     Tokugen-ji temple was founded in 1618 by Priest Tengen, who had previously revived Zuio-ji Temple, to serve as a retirement hermitage for Zuio-ji Temple, which is the 23rd station of the Kako County Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage. Its construction was made possible through financial support from Murotani Kanshichi, a member of the Yokogawa Family, a prominent old family in Futami. This support was likely due to the fact that Priest Unnan, who was a disciple of Tengen and the second head priest of Zuio-ji Temple, was from the Murotani Family.

     The temple's principal image is Yakushi Nyorai (Bhaisajyaguru), and a portrait of the founding priest, Tengen, has been preserved as a temple treasure. The current structure was rebuilt in 1992 by Priest Ryuzan of Zuio-ji Temple.

     The place name "Futami" was first documented in a tanka poem. On April 22nd, 1005, Fujiwara Takato (949–1013), on his way to take up his post as the Dazaifu no Daini (Senior Assistant Governor-General), composed a poem titled "At Futami Bay":

Waiting for a favorable wind, 

We anchored in Futami. 

I gaze upon the dawn at the break of day, 

To find the rough waves still pounding the bay.

     Keicho Kuni-ezu (Provincial Maps), which was published in 1611, lists Higashi-Futami and Nishi-Futami Villages separately.

Address: Higashifutami-1691 Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0092

Zuio-ji Temple

Address: Higashifutami-1910 Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0092

Phone: 078-942-1198

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #20 Jotoku-ji Temple

 

     Zenpuku-ji Temple was founded in 1670, at the site of the current Fukusato Community Center, serving the Shimojo and Maeyama Hamlets of Fukusato Village. In 1695, it was renamed Jotoku-ji and relocated to its present site.

     At that time, Chokoku-ji Temple, which served the Uejo Hamlet, was located immediately to the north.  Chokoku-ji Temple is said to have been closed during the early Meiji era amidst the Haibutsu Kishaku (anti-Buddhist) movement, and Jotoku-ji Temple subsequently came to serve the entire Fukusato Village. The Jizo-do and Fudo-do halls located in front of the temple gate were originally enshrined within the precincts of the adjacent Odoshi Shrine.

     Judging from their adjoining to each other, Chokoku-ji Temple could have been Odoshi Shrine’s shrine temple which might have been abolished after the Meiji Restoration Government issued the Gods and Buddhas Separation Order in 1868.  If so, Jotoku-ji Temple was moved to the precincts of them, changing its name, for some grave reasons.

Address: Fukusato-556 Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0091

Phone: 078-942-1273

Fukusato Community Center

Address: Fukusato-620 Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0091

Odoshi Shrine

Address: Fukusato-575 Futamicho, Akashi, Hyogo 674-0091

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #19 Innan-ji Temple

     The historical context surrounding the founding of Innami-ji Temple (Rinzai Zen, Myoshin-ji branch)—the 19th station of the Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon pilgrimage—can be reconstructed through the lens of regional social history.

     After the Siege of Miki (1578–1580), surviving retainers of the defeated Bessho clan settled in the Harima countryside, transitioning into local gentry and village leaders (shoya). Their engineering capabilities and organizational capacity were vital in executing the reclamation projects of the Innami-no plateau in the late 17th to early 18th century.

     The affiliation of Innami-ji with Rinzai Zen strongly reflects this warrior heritage, as Rinzai Buddhism was widely patronized by the Sengoku-period samurai of Harima. The temple was therefore founded not merely as a local place of worship, but as a dedicated institution for ancestral veneration and religious registration (shumon-aratame) for a village built by samurai-descended farmers.

     The naming of "Innami-ji" carries a deep historical resonance that transcends a mere geographical label. Innami-no (the Innami Plain) was celebrated as a classical Utamakura—a poetic landmark—in the Man'yoshu, Japan’s oldest poetry anthology compiled in the 8th century. For the former samurai who disarmed after the fall of Miki Castle and turned to farming, identifying their new settlement with this ancient, prestigious name was a statement of profound pride. Though stripped of their warrior status and reduced to tilling the soil, these land-owning leaders (shoya) retained a strong sense of identity and cultural dignity. Naming their newly founded temple "Innami-ji" was not merely a matter of administrative convenience; it was a silent assertion of their unyielding spirit, anchoring their newly forged agrarian community to the timeless heritage of classic Japanese history.

Address: 1559 Innami, Inami, Kako District, Hyogo 675-1111

Phone: 079-495-0275

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #18 Kannon-do Hall

 

     It is unknown when the Kannon-do hall, which later became the 18th station of the Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon pilgrimage, was built in Innami Shinmura (Innami New Village). As the village was developed in the early 18th century, its foundation must have been during that period or later.

     The Innami area still retains small religious structures, such as Hokke-to pagodas and Gyoja-do halls, alongside two Buddhist temples: Kongo-in and Innami-ji. There may have been even more during the Edo period (1603–1867). Under these circumstances, the current "Innami-no-do" hall is the primary candidate for the historical Kannon-do hall, though it remains possible that either the Into or Inzai Community Center now stands on its former site.

Innaminodo

Address: 4-1 Innami, Inami, Kako District, Hyogo 675-1111

Hokke-to Pagoda

Address: 7 Innami, Inami, Kako District, Hyogo 675-1111

Innamigyojado

Address: Innami, Inami, Kako District, Hyogo 675-1111

Inzaikokaido

Address: 1625 Innami, Inami, Kako District, Hyogo 675-1111

Intokokaido (Into Community Center)

Address: 215-5 Innami, Inami, Kako District, Hyogo 675-1111

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #17 Kongo-in Temple

 

     The exact founding date of Kongo-in Temple in Innami Shinson (Harima Province, Kako County) is unknown. Innami Shinson was the last new village developed during the Edo period (1603–1867) in this region. The area's development began between 1704 and 1711, when Kaemon moved from Sakai, Izumi Province, to reclaim the land. In 1712, Numata Riheiji, originally from neighboring Kako Shinmura, was appointed as the village head (shoya) of Innami Shinson and led its full-scale land reclamation. By 1737, the village had grown to 171 households with a population of 886. Based on this rapid settlement, Kongo-in Temple was likely founded in the first half of the 18th century.

     It is plausible that political and social friction influenced the leadership shift from Kaemon to Numata Riheiji. As a merchant from Izumi Province, Kaemon was an outsider (takokusha) to both the Himeji Domain and the local farmers. The domain likely preferred an experienced local farmer to ensure stable tax collection, while incoming settlers and neighboring villages would have resisted being led by an urban merchant unfamiliar with local agricultural customs and water rights. Consequently, while Kaemon provided the initial impetus, Riheiji—a local figure from neighboring Kako Shinmura—was appointed as shoya to establish a stable, functioning farming community.

Address: 549 Inami, Kako District, Hyogo 675-1111

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #16 Kunioka-Kannon-do Hall

 

     The exact date of the hall's construction is unknown, but there is a legend that a thatched-roof hall existed there before Kunioka Shinmura, Kunioka New Village, was organized in 1662.

     It was rebuilt in 1881, when the principal image was enshrined.

     As the 16th sacred site of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage in the county, it was once a popular pilgrimage site for pilgrims, and the Banshu Ondo dance was performed during the Jizo Bon festival.

     The principal image is an eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva statue (wooden, seated, 1 shaku 4 sun tall), was originally created before 1575 by the lord of Miki Castle,

Bessho Nagaharu, and was believed to have been a personal prayer for him.

     After the fall of Miki Castle, his retainers enshrined it in Bessho, but for some reason, Shoji Jisaburo of Kunioka acquired it along with related documents, and it has been enshrined by his family ever since. Afterward, a woman who had been diligently praying every day received a divine message that if she built a temple facing east, as per tradition, and enshrined Jizo on the right and Prince Shotoku on the left, she would remain in this place. This became the impetus for the reconstruction of the temple in its current location.

     From the reconstruction until around 1985, the temple was cared for by a resident caretaker. Since then, it has been cared for by members of the local Buddhist prayer group and the caretaker committee.

     While older reconstruction records are unknown, reconstructions were carried out in 1997 and 2014.

Address 677-1 Kunioka, Inami, Kako District, Hyogo 675-1115

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #15 Seikyu-ji Temple

 

     Seikyu-ji Temple was founded in 653, according to the documents kept in the temple. This coincided with the enshrinement of the deity for the predecessor (Oji Gongen) of the nearby Kuniyasu Tenman Shrine, marking a symbolic milestone in the area's development and the establishment of local religious life. In 1553, the temple was revived as a Caodong Chan temple by Priest Seiryo. In 1601, Ikeda Terumasa (1565-1613), the then-Lord of the Himeji Domain, issued an official document with his black seal, granting Seikyu-ji Temple a land endowment of 3 koku—alongside a 5-koku grant for Kuniyasu Tenman-gu Shrine. This serves as evidence that the temple enjoyed official protection from the domain lord as a vital religious institution deeply rooted in the local community.

Address: 435 Oka, Inami, Kako District, Hyogo 675-1113

Phone: 079-492-0232

Kuniyasu-Tenman Shrine

Address: 539 Kuniyasu, Inami, Kako District, Hyogo 675-1114

Phone: 079-492-0741

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #14 Kannon-do Hall

 

Historical Deduction: The Identity and Successor of the 14th Station (Terada Kannon-do Hall)

1. The Origin: Terada Shin-mura (Mid-17th Century)

     During the Meireki era (1655–1658) of the early Edo period, a new village development named Terada Shin-mura (or Terada Shinden) was established in the area of present-day Shinzaike, Hiraoka-cho, Kakogawa City. As was customary during land reclamation in this era, the newly formed community established its own communal village chapel—a Kannon-do Hall—to pray for peace, protection, and abundant harvests. This chapel served as the origin of the 14th station.

2. Rejection of the "Jingu-ji Temple of Gosha Shrine" Theory (Timeline Mismatch)

     One alternative hypothesis suggests that the Kannon-do Hall might have been a Jingu-ji Temple (a shrine-temple attached to a Shinto shrine) associated with the nearby Gosha Dai-jinja (2293 Hiraokacho Shinzaike). However, this theory presents a clear chronological contradiction:

     Anti-Buddhist Movement (Haibutsu Kishaku): Any shrine-temple (Jingu-ji) attached to Gosha Dai-jinja would have been abolished or dismantled in the early Meiji period (around 1868) due to the government-mandated separation of Shinto and Buddhism.

     Pilgrimage Establishment: The Kako-gun Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage route was established much later, during the Taisho era (1912–1926).

     Conclusion: It is highly implausible that a shrine-temple lost in the early Meiji era would be designated as an official pilgrimage station decades later in the Taisho era.

3. The "Terada Community Center" Theory (Most Plausible Successor)

     When the Kako-gun pilgrimage route was formed in the Taisho era, it incorporated the independent, locally maintained village chapel (Kannon-do) that had belonged to Terada Shin-mura since the Edo period.

     In modern Japan, particularly during mid-to-late 20th-century post-war developments, many unmanned, community-managed village chapels were renovated into local assembly halls or community centers (kominkan). Thus, the Terada Community Center (Terada Kominkan) in Shinzaike, Hiraoka-cho, stands as the most logical direct successor—or physical site—of the original Kannon-do.

Summary Timeline

1655–1658 (Edo Period): Terada Shin-mura is founded; a local Kannon-do is established as the village chapel.

1868–1870s (Early Meiji): Separation of Shinto and Buddhism dismantles shrine-temples (Jingu-ji), but independent village halls like Terada's Kannon-do survive.

1912–1926 (Taisho Period): The Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage is designated, registering the active Terada Kannon-do as Station #14.

Modern Era: The historic Kannon-do transitions into the modern Terada Community Center, where the sacred image or small altar is likely still preserved on-site or housed within a nearby temple.

Terada Community Center

Address: Hiraokacho Shinzaike, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0101

Goshadai Shrine

Address: 2293 Hiraokacho Shinzaike, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0101

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #13 Kannon-do Hall

 

Historical Analysis of Station No. 13 (Notsuji)

1. Exclusion of Bankokusan Taihei-ji

     Although Taihei-ji Temple is located near the former ko-aza (sub-village) of Notsuji, it can be ruled out as the 13th station. Established as recently as 1970 under the Hokke Sect (Honmon-ryu), it has no historical connection to the Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, which was founded in the Taisho period (1922).

2. Historical Context of Notsuji-shinmura in Edo period

     Branch Village (Eda-go) Status: Developed around 1666, Notsuji-shinmura was a branch village (eda-go) subordinate to the main village (hon-go), Shinzaike.

     Absence of a Parish Temple (Bodai-ji) and Graveyard: Residents of branch villages relied on the main village's temples for funerary rites and family graves. Consequently, Notsuji naturally lacked its own independent temple or cemetery.

     Role of the Village Hall (Kannon-do): Despite having no formal temple, the community maintained a local hall (Kannon-do) for daily devotion, agricultural prayers, and communal gatherings.

3. Creation of the Pilgrimage (1922) and Post-War Transition

     Taisho Period Allocation: By the time the Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was established around 1922, Notsuji had long been merged into neighboring administrative structures. However, local pilgrimage routes were designated based on micro-level sub-communities rather than formal modern administrative borders. Thus, the local Kannon-do was designated as Station No. 13.  

     Modern Integration into the Community Center: Following post-war land developments (such as the reclamation of local irrigation ponds) and urbanization, maintaining standalone village halls became difficult. Throughout the Harima region, small halls or statues were commonly relocated to or housed within newly built community centers (kominkan).

Conclusion

     Given that Notsuji was historically a branch village without a formal temple, the local Kannon-do existed solely as a small communal worship site. With the modern restructuring of land and community spaces, the Notsuji Community Center (Notsuji Kominkan) stands as the most logically sound successor to the historic 13th station.

Notsuji Community Center

Address: Hiraokacho Shinzaike, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0101

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #12 Kannon-do Hall

 

     Based on historical and geographical evidence, Kitano Village likely emerged in the late Sengoku period (late 16th century) as a secondary settlement formed by clearing the wilderness directly north of Noguchi Village—an origin reflected in its inclusion in the Keicho Kuniezu (1605 provincial map) and its name, meaning "northern field." Because Kitano was an offshoot village, it never established an independent Buddhist temple of its own; instead, its villagers relied on the major established temples in adjacent Noguchi for funerary services and ancestral rites.

     However, as was common in early modern rural communities, the village maintained an unstaffed local hall—the Kannon-do hall—for collective worship. During the mid-to-late Edo period, further agricultural expansion led to the creation of the satellite settlement Kitano Shinden (Kitano New Lands). In the Taisho era, when the Kakogun Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was established, this local shrine was selected as the 12th station.

     As 20th-century modernization reorganized local infrastructure, the original structure of the Kannon-do hall was likely dismantled or repurposed. Its former site was most probably converted into a community hub—such as the present-day Kitano Shinden Civic Center or the Kitano Kita Community Center—or redeveloped into the Kitano Cemetery Park, with any remaining sacred statues either consolidated into local civic grounds or transferred to nearby temples.

Kitano Shinden Community Center

Address: Kitano-1056-2 Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0011

Kitanokita Community Center

Address: Kitano-733-3 Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0011

Goshadai Shrine

Address: Kitano-1289-10 Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0011

Trees in the Town

 

Virtual Kako County Chichibu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #11 Chofuku-ji Temple

 

     It is unknown when Chofuku-ji Temple was founded in Mizuashi Village, Kako County, Harima Province. The village appears in the Keicho Kuni-ezu (the provincial map compiled in 1611). It is also unknown when the temple was abolished, and its exact location can no longer be traced today.

     The Mizuashi area currently has two cemeteries and a Yakushi-do hall, suggesting that Chofuku-ji may have stood near one of these sites. A particularly strong candidate is the area around the present-day Mizuashi Community Center. With Wakamiya Shrine nearby and a former public pool in Mizuashi Park, this neighborhood appears to have served as the center of both daily secular life and religious devotion for the local community.

     Additionally, an elevated expressway, the Higashi-Harima Road, now runs directly adjacent to this area. It is entirely possible that the former grounds of Chofuku-ji Temple lie buried beneath its massive piers and overpass, hidden forever by modern infrastructure.

Hirooka Cemetery

Address: Mizuashi-550-5 Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0019

Dosaka Cemetery

Address: Mizuashi-694 Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0019

Yakushi-do Hall

Address: Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0019

Mizuashi Community Center

Address: Mizuashi-660 Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0019

Wakamiya Shrine

Address: Mizuashi-248 Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0019

Mizuhashi Park

Address: Mizuashi-1693-3 Noguchicho, Kakogawa, Hyogo 675-0019