Chichibu Fudasho No.28 Hashidate-do Temple
The Kannon Hall was built in 1707. It is the only temple on the Chichibu Pilgrimage that enshrines Bato Kannon, or the Horse-Headed Kannon, as its principal image. When horses were the main means of transport, people worshiped Bato Kannon for safe travel. On festival days, the temple used to be crowded with visitors bringing their horses.
The pilgrimage stamp office is closed from December through February. During this period, the goshuin stamp for Fudasho Temple No.28 is available at No.27.
Chichibu Fudasho No.28 Hashidate-do Temple
- Japanese / English notation
- 石龍山 橋立堂（せきりゅうざん はしだてどう）/ Sekiryu-Zan Hashidate-do Temple
- Location
- 〒369-1872 Kamikagemori675,chichibu-shi,Saitama
- School
- Soto Zen School
- Principal Image
- Bato Kannon (Horse-Headed Kannon)
- Tagline
- A Temple Hall That Watches Over Travelers and All Coexisting Life
- Blessings
- Traffic Safety
- Animal Memorial
- Disaster Prevention
- Highlights
- Limestone cave: This is a vertical cave that was once a training site for pilgrims passing through the “passage of rebirth.”
- Horse Pavilion: This enshrines statues of chestnut and white horses.
- Iwakage Remains: This is the site under the cliff behind the Kannon Hall that was once inhabited by ancient people.
- Miracles of Kannon at This Temple
- Rebirth as a Serpent
By the merit of lighting a lantern just once at this temple, a man did not fall into hell and was reborn as a giant serpent.
Later, the evil serpent appeared in this area, attacking villagers and their horses. When the villagers prayed at the temple, a white horse, an incarnation of Kannon, appeared from the hall. The area has been peaceful ever since.
- Nearest station
- 20-minutes walk from Chichibu Railway Urayamaguchi Station.