The is a pilgrimage of thirty-three Buddhist temples throughout the Kansai region of Japan, similar to the Shikoku Pilgrimage. In addition to the official thirty-three temples, there are an additional three known as . The principal image in each temple is Kannon, known to Westerners as the Bodhisattva of Compassion (sometimes translated as 'Goddess of Mercy'); however, there is some variation among the images and the powers they possess.
It is traditional for pilgrims to wear white clothing and conical straw hats and to carry walking sticks. While the route was historically traveled by foot, today pilgrims usually use cars or trains. Pilgrims record their progress with a , which the temple staff mark with red stamps and Japanese calligraphy indicating the temple number, the temple name, and the specific name of the Kannon image. Some pilgrims receive the stamps and calligraphy on wall scrolls (for a decorative hanging) and on their white coats (to be cremated in) as well.
The goeika songs of the 33 temples are widely known and frequently grouped together.
No. Temple Honzon (main image) City/Ward/Town PrefectureImage Coordinates 1 Seiganto-ji (青岸渡寺) Nyoirin Kannon(Cintāmani-cakra) Nachikatsuura Wakayama 2 Kimii-dera (紀三井寺) Jūichimen Kannon(Ekādaśamukha) Wakayama Wakayama 3 Kokawa-dera (粉河寺) Senju Kannon(Sahasra-bhuja Sahasra-netra) Kinokawa Wakayama 4 Sefuku-ji (施福寺) Senju Kannon(Sahasra-bhuja Sahasra-netra) Izumi Osaka 5 Fujii-dera (葛井寺) Senju Kannon(Sahasra-bhuja Sahasra-netra) Fujiidera Osaka 6 Minamihokke-ji (Tsubosaka-dera) (南法華寺) Senju Kannon(Sahasra-bhuja Sahasra-netra) Takatori Nara 7 Oka-dera (岡寺) Nyoirin Kannon(Cintāmani-cakra) Asuka Nara Bangai Hōki-in (法起院) Sakurai Nara 8 Hase-dera (長谷寺) Jūichimen Kannon(Ekādaśamukha) Sakurai Nara 9 Nan'endō (Kofuku-ji) (南円堂) Fukūkenjaku Kannon(Amoghapāśa) Nara Nara 10 Mimuroto-ji (三室戸寺) Senju Kannon (Sahasra-bhuja) Uji Kyoto 11 Kami Daigo-ji (醍醐寺) Juntei Kannon (Cundi) Fushimi-ku, Kyoto Kyoto 12 Shōhō-ji (Iwama-dera) (正法寺) Senju Kannon (Sahasra-bhuja) Otsu Shiga 13 Ishiyama-dera (石山寺) Nyoirin Kannon(Cintāmani-cakra) Otsu Shiga 14 Mii-dera (三井寺) Nyoirin Kannon(Cintāmani-cakra) Otsu Shiga Bangai Gankei-ji (元慶寺) Kyoto Kyoto 15 Imakumano Kannon-ji (今熊野観音寺) Jūichimen Kannon(Ekādaśamukha) Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Kyoto 16 Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺) Senju Kannon(Sahasra-bhuja Sahasra-netra) Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Kyoto 17 Rokuharamitsu-ji (六波羅蜜寺) Jūichimen Kannon(Ekādaśamukha) Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto Kyoto 18 Chōhō-ji (Rokkaku-dō) (頂法寺) Nyoirin Kannon(Cintāmani-cakra) Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto Kyoto 19 Gyōgan-ji (Kōdō) (行願寺) Senju Kannon (Sahasra-bhuja) Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto Kyoto 20 Yoshimine-dera (善峯寺) Senju Kannon (Sahasra-bhuja) Nishikyo-ku Kyoto 21 Anao-ji (穴太寺) Shō Kannon(Aryavalokitesvara) Kameoka Kyoto 22 Sōji-ji (総持寺) Senju Kannon (Sahasra-bhuja) Ibaraki Osaka 23 Katsuō-ji (勝尾寺) Senju Kannon (Sahasra-bhuja) Minoh Osaka 24 Nakayama-dera (中山寺) Jūichimen Kannon(Ekādaśamukha) Takarazuka Hyōgo Bangai Bodai-ji (菩提寺) Sanda Hyōgo 25 Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺) Senju Kannon (Sahasra-bhuja) Katō Hyōgo 26 Ichijō-ji (一乗寺) Shō Kannon(Aryavalokitesvara) Kasai Hyōgo 27 Engyō-ji (圓教寺) Nyoirin Kannon(Cintāmani-cakra) Himeji Hyōgo 28 Nariai-ji (成相寺) Shō Kannon(Aryavalokitesvara) Miyazu Kyoto 29 Matsunoo-dera (松尾寺) Batō Kannon (Hayagrīva) Maizuru Kyoto 30 Hōgon-ji (宝厳寺) Senju Kannon(Sahasra-bhuja Sahasra-netra) Nagahama Shiga 31 Chōmei-ji (長命寺) Senju KannonJūichimen KannonShō Kannon Ōmihachiman Shiga 32 Kannonshō-ji (観音正寺) Senju Kannon(Sahasra-bhuja Sahasra-netra) Ōmihachiman Shiga 33 Kegon-ji (華厳寺) Jūichimen Kannon(Ekādaśamukha) Ibigawa Gifu
See also Japan 100 Kannon, pilgrimage composed of the Saigoku, Bandō and Chichibu pilgrimages Bandō 33 Kannon, pilgrimage in the Kantō region Chichibu 34 Kannon, pilgrimage in Saitama Prefecture Shikoku Pilgrimage, 88 Temple pilgrimage in the Shikoku island Musashino Kannon Pilgrimage, pilgrimage in Tokyo and Saitama prefectures Chūgoku 33 Kannon, pilgrimage in the Chūgoku region Kannon Buddhism in Japan Tourism in Japan
External links
Pictures of all temples Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage By Bike around Saigoku