Kasamori Kannon

Kasamori Kannon, in Chonan, is an ancient temple said to have been founded in 784 by the great teacher Saicho, formally named Kasamoriji. As the thirty-first site of the Bando thirty-three Kannon pilgrimage, it has drawn pilgrims since ancient times. Its greatest sight is the Kannon hall rising atop a great boulder at the summit. Its four-sided suspended construction, supported by pillars on every side, is the only such architecture in Japan and is designated an Important Cultural Property.

Highlights

- The Kannon hall atop the great boulder is the only example in Japan of the four-sided suspended construction. - From inside the hall, reached by a steep stairway, a refreshing view opens out over the forests of Boso. - The approach to the gate is wrapped in deep forest, dotted with sights such as the fertility camphor tree.

Enjoying the Seasons

Spring brings fresh greenery, summer the cool of the deep forest, autumn its foliage, and winter worship in crisp air. The view is especially fine in autumn, when the trees surrounding the hall take on color. The forest-clad grounds reveal a rich, ever-changing face with each season.

Access and Basic Information

- About 30 minutes by bus from Mobara Station on the JR Sotobo Line, then a short walk from the Kasamori stop. - Roughly 10 minutes by car from the Mobara-Chonan interchange on the Ken-O Expressway, with parking available. - A steep stairway leads up to the hall, so sturdy, comfortable shoes are essential.

A Quick Tip

The stairway up to the hall is steep, but the view that opens at the top brings a real sense of accomplishment. Be sure to admire up close an architectural style found nowhere else in Japan. The forest-wrapped grounds brim with fresh air, making this a hidden sacred place to refresh both body and mind.