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Location : Abiko 4-chome
Access : Approximately 200 m west of Abiko Station on the subway Midosuji
Line; approximately 400 m east of Abiko-cho Station on the JR Hanwa Line
Officially called Abikozan, and the temple itself named Daisho Kannonji
Temple, Abiko Kannon (goddess of mercy) is well known as Japan's oldest
place of worship for Kannon worshippers and as a deity that drives away
evil. Long ago, the powerful clan of Abiko Yosami was said to have lived
in this area. Abiko was said to have received an image of Kannon standing
about only 5 cm in height from the king of the Kudara dynasty. The people
erected a shrine for the deity and worshipped it, and when Prince Shotoku
visited the area approximately 1,400 years ago, he was said to have received
a divine message from the goddess, which led to him creating the temple.
The annual Setsubun ceremony for the driving away of evil spirits is always
thronging with worshippers praying for the goddess to repel evil, bring
good luck, protect them from illness and disaster, and make their wishes
come true. |
Abiko
Kannon
Osaka
City