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Zuiouzan Rengein Gumyoji Temple (Gumyoji Kannon)
Buddhist Image Standing Eleven-Faced Kannon Bosatsu Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
神奈川県横浜市南区弘明寺町267
Visiting Status Unveiled throughout 2026 (Bando Pilgrimage Horse-Year observance; sacred cord available)
GentlenessDepthMystery
Gumyoji's principal image, the standing Eleven-Faced Kannon Bosatsu, is a 181.7 cm single-block wooden statue dating to the middle Heian period. Carved from a single piece of elm, it deliberately retains rounded chisel marks on its surface in the distinctive nata-bori style and is designated a Important Cultural Property. Its right hand forms a distinctive gesture associated with prayers against epidemics, and it is revered as the principal image of the 14th temple of the Bando Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage. In ordinary years the image is unveiled during the Shiman Rokusen-nichi observance from Jul 8 to 10. In 2026, however, it is unveiled throughout the year for the Bando pilgrimage's Horse-Year observance, with a sacred cord allowing worshippers to form a symbolic connection with the principal image.
Enoshima Daishi (Kanto Branch of Saifukuji)
Buddhist Image Aka Fudo (Fudo Myo-o Statue) Category Myo-o (Wisdom King)
神奈川県藤沢市江の島2丁目4-10
Visiting Status Open to general worship (main hall freely accessible for viewing)
PowerDignitySolemnity
The principal image of Enoshima Daishi is a Fudo Myoo statue about 6 m tall, known as the Aka Fudo, or Red Fudo. Enoshima Daishi was founded in 1993 as the Kanto branch of Saifukuji, a Koyasan Shingon temple in Kagoshima. Fujisawa City's official tourism site introduces the Red Fudo as one of the largest statues enshrined indoors in Japan. Visitors can freely enter the stone-built main hall beyond the gate guarded by vivid red Nio figures to view and worship the image, and goma fire rituals continue to be performed here as part of living Fudo devotion.
Enoshima Shrine
Buddhist Image Happi Benzaiten and Myoon Benzaiten (Naked Benzaiten) Category Tenbu (Deva)
神奈川県藤沢市江の島2丁目3-8
Visiting Status Open to visitors (8:30–16:30; admission fee required)
MysteryNobilitySolemnity
Two Benzaiten images are enshrined in the Hoanden Hall beside Hetsunomiya at Enoshima Shrine. The Kamakura-period Happi Benzaiten, designated a Important Cultural Property, has eight arms holding weapons and ritual implements in a powerful form. Myoon Benzaiten, popularly known as the Naked Benzaiten, is a nude figure holding a biwa and is designated an Important Cultural Property by Fujisawa City. Devotion to Enoshima Benzaiten flourished in the Edo period, making the island a major pilgrimage destination. Both images can still be viewed together in the Hoanden, preserving Enoshima's history of Shinto-Buddhist syncretism through two of the island's best-known sacred sculptures.
Kaiunzan Gandenji Temple (Ganden Kannon)
Buddhist Image Eleven-Faced Kannon Bosatsu Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
神奈川県逗子市久木5-7-11
Visiting Status Secret image (unveiled Sep 18–Nov 18, 2026)
MysteryStillnessDepth
Gandenji's principal image, the Eleven-Faced Kannon Bosatsu, is the focus of worship at the second temple of the Bando Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage. Temple tradition attributes its founding to the monks Tokudo and Gyoki in 721. Records in the Azuma Kagami show that Minamoto no Yoritomo, Hojo Masako and Minamoto no Sanetomo visited the temple in the Kamakura period, reflecting its long history of Kannon devotion. The principal image is normally kept hidden, but for the Bando pilgrimage's 2026 Horse-Year observance it will be specially unveiled from Sep 18 to Nov 18, with a sacred cord allowing worshippers to form a symbolic connection with the image.
Iigamisan Chokokuji Temple (Iiyama Kannon)
Buddhist Image Wooden Standing Eleven-Faced Kannon Bosatsu Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
神奈川県厚木市飯山5605
Visiting Status Secret image (normally unveiled Jan 1–3, Apr 8 and Nov 3; special 8-day spring and autumn unveilings in 2026)
GentlenessMysteryStillness
The principal image of Iigamisan Chokokuji, popularly known as Iiyama Kannon, is a wooden standing Eleven-Faced Kannon Bosatsu. Temple tradition says that Gyoki founded the temple in 725, and that the present principal image contains a small inner image said to have been carved by Gyoki himself. As the sixth temple of the Bando Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage, it has long drawn pilgrims and devotees. The principal image is normally kept hidden in a shrine in the inner sanctuary of the Kannon Hall and is unveiled on Jan 1–3, Apr 8 and Nov 3. For the Bando pilgrimage's 2026 Horse-Year observance, special eight-day unveilings are held in spring and autumn, while a sacred cord is available throughout the year.
Ryuhoji Temple
Buddhist Image Wooden Standing Thousand-Armed Kannon Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
神奈川県海老名市国分北2-13-40
Visiting Status Secret image (unveiled every Jan 1 and Mar 17)
NobilityMysteryRefinement
Ryuhoji preserves a 195 cm wooden standing Thousand-Armed Kannon designated a Important Cultural Property. Carved from a single block of kaya wood, it has an unusual Kiyomizudera-style form in which one pair of secondary arms is raised above the head to support a small manifestation of Amida Nyorai on the palms. Ebina City notes that the carving and drapery show Heian-period characteristics, while the realistic facial treatment and crystal-inlaid eyes reflect features of the Kamakura period. Normally kept as a secret image in the repository behind the Kannon Hall, it is unveiled only twice each year, on Jan 1 and Mar 17.
Myohozan Shokokuji Temple (Hoshi-no-Tani Kannon)
Buddhist Image Sho Kannon Bosatsu Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
神奈川県座間市入谷西3-12-22
Visiting Status Secret image (unveiled Oct 16–18, 2026)
MysteryStillnessDepth
Shokokuji's principal image is Sho Kannon Bosatsu, popularly known as Hoshi-no-Tani Kannon. According to Kanagawa Prefecture's official account, tradition holds that Gyoki saw a golden light shining through the valley here, carved an image of Sho Kannon himself, and established a hall. The temple has long attracted pilgrims as the eighth stop of the Bando Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage, and its grounds are associated with seven wonders including the Hoshi-no-Ido, or Star Well. The principal image is normally kept hidden, but during the Bando pilgrimage's 2026 Horse-Year observance it will be unveiled from Oct 16 to 18, providing a rare opportunity to see the actual image.
Itokuzan Yogoji Temple
Buddhist Image Wooden Yakushi Nyorai and Two Attendant Figures Category Nyorai (Tathagata)
神奈川県川崎市宮前区野川本町3-4-4
Visiting Status Shown several times a year (in 2026: Jan 1–3, Mar 20, Sep 23, Dec 31; principal image absent Nov 3)
GentlenessDepthSolemnity
Yogoji's principal image is a triad consisting of a wooden Yakushi Nyorai and two attendants, dating to the Heian period and designated a Important Cultural Property. The central seated Yakushi Nyorai is 139 cm high and carved from a single block of keyaki wood; Yogoji dates it to the late 11th century and notes its stable, substantial form and gently flowing drapery. The standing Nikko and Gakko Bosatsu attendants are each 171 cm high, and all three are now enshrined in the Enshrinement Hall. The triad is not normally visible but is unveiled several times each year; in 2026, further unveilings are scheduled for Sep 23 and Dec 31. It remains a major focus of Yakushi devotion and an important group of ancient Buddhist images in Kawasaki.
Ryukozan Choanji Temple
Buddhist Image Five Hundred Rakan Statues Category Other
神奈川県足柄下郡箱根町仙石原82
Visiting Status Open to general worship (freely viewable in the grounds and wooded hill; free)
WarmthStillnessDepth
Hundreds of Rakan figures are scattered through the grounds of Choanji and the wooded hill behind the main hall. The Five Hundred Rakan represent disciples of Shakyamuni who attained the state of arhat through Buddhist practice. According to the Hakone Tourist Association, installation of the statues began in 1985 and continues today. Each figure has a different pose and expression reflecting a wide range of human emotions, giving the group a distinctly modern and approachable character. Visitors can walk through bamboo groves and woodland while viewing many of the Rakan at close range, making the statues themselves a major reason to visit the temple.
Iwatozan Manganji Temple
Buddhist Image Wooden Standing Kannon Bosatsu and Wooden Standing Jizo Bosatsu Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
神奈川県横須賀市岩戸1-4-9
Visiting Status Advance reservation required (repository viewing; ¥300 fee)
DignityNobilitySolemnity
The wooden standing Kannon Bosatsu and Jizo Bosatsu preserved in Manganji's repository are both Kamakura-period statues over two meters tall and are designated National Important Cultural Properties. They have crystal-inlaid eyes, purposeful facial expressions, and substantial, imposing bodies. Kanagawa Prefecture notes similarities between the Kannon image and the attendant figures of Unkei's Amida triad at Jorakuji and considers the Kannon to have been made by Unkei or his workshop. Manganji is an ancient temple associated with the Miura clan, and the repository images can be viewed by the public with advance telephone reservation. The Kannon was also unveiled during the Miura Thirty-Three Kannon Grand Unveiling from Apr 18 to May 18, 2026.
Seiunji Temple
Buddhist Image Wooden Seated Kannon Bosatsu (Takimi Kannon) Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
神奈川県横須賀市大矢部5-9-20
Visiting Status Advance reservation required (principal image viewing; donation)
NobilityMysteryRefinement
Seiunji's principal image, known as Takimi Kannon, is a wooden seated Kannon Bosatsu in a hanka posture with one knee raised. Made in China during the Southern Song dynasty, it is designated a Important Cultural Property. The statue is constructed from joined pieces of hard Chinese cherry wood, with glass-like inlaid eyes and molded paste used for the hair and jeweled ornaments—features characteristic of Chinese sculpture. It was originally the principal image of nearby Entsuji and was transferred to Seiunji after that temple disappeared, becoming Seiunji's principal image in the late Edo period. It is regarded as one of the representative surviving examples of Southern Song Buddhist sculpture in Japan and can be viewed by advance telephone reservation.
Tenkeizan Gyokuhoji Temple (Five Hundred Rakan)
Buddhist Image Five Hundred Rakan Statues (526 figures) Category Other
神奈川県小田原市扇町5-1-28
Visiting Status Open for viewing (from 6:00 until dusk; free; groups should contact the temple in advance)
WarmthDepthStillness
Gyokuhoji's main hall is densely filled with 526 wooden Rakan figures and related images, ranging from 24 to 60 cm in height. In 1730, Chitetsu of the former Tako village began raising donations to create the Five Hundred Rakan and completed 170 figures over seven years. After his death, his younger brother Shincho carried on the project and completed the group in 1757. The statues were damaged by major earthquakes in the mid-19th century and repaired in 1860–1861. Today the ensemble is designated a Tangible Folk Cultural Property by Odawara City. It is a rare large group of Rakan in Kanagawa, and visitors can closely view the individual expressions and poses inside the main hall.
Daiyuzan Saijoji Temple (Doryoson)
Buddhist Image Great Tengu and Small Tengu Statues Category Other
神奈川県南足柄市大雄町1157
Visiting Status Open to general worship (outdoors at the Kekkai Gate; main reception normally 6:00–16:00)
PowerDignityMystery
A pair of Great Tengu and Small Tengu statues guard the Kekkai Gate at Daiyuzan Saijoji. The gate was built in 1897, and the Tengu statues were donated by the Tokyo Godaiko association in 1936. The temple's official guide identifies the Small Tengu on the left and the Great Tengu on the right, marking the area beyond the gate as the sacred domain of Doryoson. Temple tradition says that Doryo, a disciple of the founder Ryoan Emyo, helped build Saijoji and, after his master's death, transformed into a tengu and vowed to protect the temple forever. These powerful outdoor guardian figures are among the temple's most distinctive sacred images and can be viewed closely.
Seiryuzan Josenji Temple
Buddhist Image Five Hundred Stone Rakan Statues Category Other
神奈川県大和市福田2176
Visiting Status Open to the public during visiting hours (9:00–16:30, entry by 16:00; admission fee required)
WarmthPeacefulnessStillness
Five hundred stone Rakan figures are scattered throughout the grounds of Josenji. In 1988, the temple and stone sculptor Kurata Tatsuhiko began the project, which continued for more than thirty years and reached completion in April 2022. Kanagawa Prefecture's official tourism information notes that a Five Hundred Rakan group carved by a single sculptor is extremely unusual. Every figure differs in pose and expression, and visitors can view them closely while walking among the flowers, trees and bamboo of the temple grounds. Although modern rather than ancient images, the ensemble has exceptional unity and individuality and makes the statues themselves a compelling reason to visit.
Iwadonosan Myojoin Temple
Buddhist Image Wooden Seated Dainichi Nyorai (Kongokai Dainichi Nyorai) Category Nyorai (Tathagata)
新潟県上越市五智国分2111
Visiting Status Viewing available (advance contact recommended; fee required / unveiling services Jan 1–3)
DignityNobilitySolemnity
The principal image of Myojoin is a seated Dainichi Nyorai of the Kongokai (Diamond Realm), forming the chiken-in mudra. The statue is 145 cm high; the head and torso are carved from a single block, with the front of the knees and both hands made separately and joined, and the wood is thought to be kaya (Japanese torreya). Its slender waist, broad shallow knees and serene appearance indicate a date in the late Heian period, in the second half of the 12th century, and it is thought to have been made by a sculptor from the central region. On April 14, 1906, it became the first work in Niigata Prefecture to receive National Treasure designation under the former system; it is now a Important Cultural Property. The image can be viewed for a fee, with advance contact recommended; unveiling services are held Jan 1–3.
Gochi Kokubunji Temple
Buddhist Image Five Wisdom Tathagatas (Dainichi Nyorai, Yakushi Nyorai, Hosho Nyorai, Amida Nyorai and Shaka Nyorai) Category Nyorai (Tathagata)
新潟県上越市五智3-20-21
Visiting Status Regular viewing available (Main Hall, Apr–Nov, 9:00–12:00 / interior viewing suspended from mid-Nov to Mar)
DignitySolemnityStillness
The Main Hall of Gochi Kokubunji houses five statues of the Five Wisdom Tathagatas—Dainichi Nyorai, Yakushi Nyorai, Hosho Nyorai, Amida Nyorai and Shaka Nyorai—arranged in a row; each is listed as 4 shaku 5 sun (about 136 cm) high. The temple carries on the tradition of a provincial Kokubunji founded in the Tenpyo era to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation, although its location and scale have changed over time. The interior of the Main Hall is open for worship from 9:00 to 12:00 from April through November, while the grounds and exterior of the hall can be visited year-round. The complete group of five Wisdom Tathagatas makes this one of Joetsu’s notable Buddhist pilgrimage spots.
Kanayasan Tahoin Ioji Temple
Buddhist Image Seated Bronze Tathagata (Kanaya Yakushi) Category Nyorai (Tathagata)
新潟県上越市大貫2-18-3
Visiting Status Secret image (unveiled annually on May 5)
GentlenessDepthMystery
The principal image of Ioji’s Yakushido Hall is a small gilt-bronze Buddhist statue long revered as the “Kanaya Yakushi.” The figure is 17.2 cm high and 23.6 cm overall, with a childlike appearance marked by an unusually large head and hands. A fire stripped away its gilding and damaged the neck, but careful casting and paired-dot patterns along the robe folds remain. Most scholarship dates it to the latter half of the Nara period, while similarities to Hakuho-period Tathagata images have led to suggestions of an even earlier date. It was designated a Important Cultural Property on June 21, 1991, and is unveiled in a religious service every May 5.
Yamadera Yakushi
Buddhist Image Wooden Seated Yakushi Nyorai, Shaka Nyorai and Amida Nyorai Category Nyorai (Tathagata)
新潟県上越市板倉区東山寺1030
Visiting Status Viewing available (open year-round; free)
DignityDepthStillness
Yamadera Yakushi’s hall houses three seated statues—Yakushi Nyorai, Shaka Nyorai and Amida Nyorai—each 142 cm high and arranged side by side. All are made of hinoki cypress in joined-block construction, with the natural wood surface retained and details including crystal-inlaid eyes and gilt-bronze urna. An ink inscription shows that the central Yakushi was made in 1395 by Chikugo Hogen, a master sculptor of Kyoto’s Rokujo Bussho, while the Shaka was made by the same sculptor in 1394. The Amida, though uninscribed, is considered part of the same group based on technique and style. The three are designated Tangible Cultural Properties of Niigata Prefecture, and the official tourism guide lists the site as open year-round and free to visit.
Morinji Temple
Buddhist Image Wooden Seated Jizo Bosatsu in Hanka Posture (Kosodate Enmei Jizoson) Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
新潟県新潟市秋葉区小須戸3362
Visiting Status Secret image (special unveiling during the Flower Festival each May; date varies by year)
GentlenessPeacefulnessWarmth
This wooden seated Jizo Bosatsu at Morinji, shown in a hanka posture, has long been revered as the “Kosodate Enmei Jizoson,” a Jizo associated with child-rearing and longevity. Niigata City’s cultural-property list dates the statue to the Nanbokucho period. Its gentle expression and elegant hanka posture are distinctive. Designated a National Treasure under the former law in 1937, it is now a Important Cultural Property and is the only sculpture in Niigata City with that national designation. Normally kept hidden, it is specially unveiled during the temple’s Flower Festival each May, with the exact date varying from year to year.
Kitabuzan Chokokuji Temple, Shingon-shu Buzan-ha
Buddhist Image Wooden Standing Eleven-Faced Kannon Bosatsu (Tangible Cultural Property of Niigata Prefecture) Category Bosatsu (Bodhisattva)
新潟県佐渡市長谷13
Visiting Status Advance reservation required (8:30–17:00; open year-round; free)
PurityNobilityStillness
This wooden standing Eleven-Faced Kannon Bosatsu at Chokokuji is thought to date to the late Heian period and stands about 100 cm high. It is separate from the temple’s three principal Eleven-Faced Kannon statues, which are National Important Cultural Properties unveiled only once every 33 years. Because its form and carving technique are closely related to those three statues, this image is designated a Tangible Cultural Property of Niigata Prefecture. Chokokuji has six exhibition rooms, and this prefectural-designated Kannon can be viewed in the temple treasure exhibition. Visits are by advance reservation with the priest as guide, from 8:30 to 17:00, year-round and free of charge. Many other ancient images, including Heian-period Four Heavenly Kings and Fudo Myoo statues, can be viewed on the same visit.