Belief in Kannon bosatsu (Bosatsu in Buddhism is a monk practicing and preparing to enter into a status of total awareness like Buddha) which is a particularly benevolent bosatsu that takes thirty three different appearances to help people spread from the 8th century. In the 10th century a pilgrimage route to visit thirty three Kannon bosatsus in the Kinki area starting from Seigantoji Temple in the Kii pilgrimage route (a World Heritage site) was developed. A pilgrimage route to visit thirty three Kannon bosatsus in the Kanto area called Bandou (old name for Kantou) was established in the 13th century by the Kamakura samurai military government. I have traveled to the southern coast of Bousou Peninsular so many times but it was not until now that I came to know the existence of Nagoji Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect, more familiarly known as Nago Kannon because of its kannon statue with numerous hands (senju-kannon) that is the main worshiped statue of the temple. Nagokannon is the last of the Bandou thirty three kannon pilgrimage route. The temple was much grander than I had expected. We parked at the car space by the national road and went up the slope to the sanmon gate where you are to leave your earthly lusts before entering the main temple area. Two nious (ogres) at the gate protects the temple. At the other end from the sanmon gate is the Kannon-dou building that houses the Nago-senju-kannon. We entered the Kannon-dou and could barely make out a statue on the left of the main altar but not the Nago-kannon. Legend says that the high priest Gyouki who also founded Daifukuji Temple prayed to a kannon for the cure of the emperor's illness and was granted the wish in the early 8th century. The present kannon is a bronze statue from the Kamakura era probably the 13th century. Between the entrance gate and the kannon-dou is an old wooden building called Amidadou that houses a wooden statue of Amidanyorai also from the Kamakura era. It was a pleasant and interesting visit to Nago-kannon, above my expectation. It's only a couple of minutes' drive from Daifukuji towards Tateyama and worthwhile a visit if you are traveling the area.

You can meet the shenron here. And you can enjoy trecking.