Terashita Kannon

This Kannon hall has a long history, originating from the Kaicho-zan Omono-ji Temple, which was built over a period of five years starting in 724.
It is said that the Grand Priest Gyoki (668-749) was the founder of the temple, and the statue of Kannon that is housed there is also said to have been created by Gyoki.

Later, in 1186, Futsunushi-no-Mikoto was enshrined in the Kannon Hall, and since then, it has been revered as a sacred place of syncretism between Shinto and Buddhism.
In the Meiji period, due to the Shinbutsu Bunri Edict, which banned the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, Kannon and Futsunushi no Mikoto were enshrined separately, and the current Kannon Hall was built. The previous shrine building continues to be Ushioyama Shrine, which enshrines Futsunushi no Mikoto.

Beside Terashita Kannon Hall there is a bell tower. The temple bell, cast in 1719, is engraved with the "Record of the Decline of Omotsu-ji Temple", a summary of the history of Terashita Kannon Hall, said to have been written by the monk Kozan, who rebuilt Omotsu-ji Temple after it was burned down by lightning during the Kamakura period. This temple bell is designated as a tangible cultural property by Hashikami Town.

Kannon

Name: Namu Daiji Daihi Kannon Bodhisattva


Terashita Kannon statue said to have been made by the monk Gyoki.

The ultimate goal in Buddhism is to attain "enlightenment," which means transcending the world of delusion and realizing the truth.
"Hotoke" refers to an enlightened being known as "Buddha (Tathagata)", but in a broader sense it also includes "Bodhisattva", "Myo-o", and "Guardian Deities", who are practicing to attain enlightenment.

The most well-known of the Bodhisattvas is the Bodhisattva Kannon.
He is also the bodhisattva who appears at the beginning of the Heart Sutra, and is a symbol of the deep wisdom that is gained as a result of training and that allows one to clearly see through all things and their principles.

Kannon is a blessed Buddha who not only bestows happiness in the afterlife, but also bestows happiness on people in this life. Furthermore, because its merits are fast-acting and appear "immediately" upon request, many people have believed in it since ancient times.

It is said that "Kannon" was given this name because when people of the world suffer various disasters and hardships and chant the name of Kannon with all their heart seeking salvation, Kannon observes the sound and immediately offers help.
Sound is something we hear with the ears, but Kannon observes this sound.
He carefully observes whether the plea for help is genuine or merely lip service, and if it is genuine, he will immediately extend a helping hand.

For that reason, various methods of Kannon faith have been devised since ancient times to allow Kannon to see how sincere your request is.
In addition to the seven-time pilgrimage, 33-time pilgrimage, and 100-time pilgrimage, there are also Kannon wish-days, which are designated specific days each month (Terashita Kannon is on the 17th of each month), and it is said that if you visit the Kannon on those days, you will gain many merits, but one faith method that is particularly likely to gain many merits is a pilgrimage to the Thirty-three Sacred Sites of the Kannon.

Temple bell


The temple bell of Terashita Kannon

The temple bell is sometimes rung as a premonitory bell for Buddhist services such as memorial services, and is also used as a time signal, and it is said that those who listen to its sound will have merit that will lead them to escape all suffering and attain enlightenment.

The temple bell of Terashita Kannon was donated in 1719 by the fourth lord of the Hachinohe domain, Nanbu Hironobu, and is engraved with the "Record of the Decline of Omotsu-ji Temple".

"Record of the Decline of Omotsu-ji templ" is written in 1246 when the monk Kozan collected the Kannon statue and other items from the dust of Omotsu-ji Temple, which had been destroyed by a forest fire caused by lightning in 1242. In 1712, the monk Shinyo Genryo discovered what was hidden inside the statue of Bishamonten at the rebuilt Omotsu-ji Temple.

Pilgrimage to the Thirty-Three Kannon Temples

Pilgrimage is the act of visiting sacred sites with the purpose of fulfilling one's vows, praying for miraculous experiences and grace, and making atonement.
The number 33 comes from the fact that Kannon Bodhisattva is said to incarnate in 33 different forms to save people from suffering and distress.

The Thirty-three Kannon Temples of the Western Provinces, which are sacred sites of Kannon worship scattered across present-day Wakayama, Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Shiga, Hyogo, and Gifu prefectures, are said to have been founded by the monk Tokudo.
When monk Tokudo died of illness, King Enma told him, "There are 33 sacred sites of the Kannon Bodhisattva in Japan. If you make a pilgrimage to these sites, your sins will be cleansed and you will be saved from suffering and troubles. However, no one knows about these sacred sites yet, so you should return and spread the word about them". It is said that he was then given the 33 sacred seals and brought back to life.

The Thirty-Three Kannon Statues of the Western Provinces at Terashita Kannon

The Terashita Kannon temple grounds enshrines the Kannon statue associated with the pilgrimage to the 33 temples of the Western Provinces, and it is said that if you pray here, you will receive the blessings of those who have made the pilgrimage to the 33 temples of the Western Provinces.

→ The Thirty-Three Kannon Statues of the Western Provinces (Japanese Only)

Oshu-Nanbu-Nukanobu Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage

The Thirty-Three Kannon Temples of Oshu-Nanbu-Nukanobu were designated in 1743 by the eighth abbot of Hachinohe Tenshoji Temple, monk Sokuyo Syusai.
They are scattered across what is now Hachinohe City, Hashikami Town, Nanbu Town, Sannohe Town, and Takko Town in Aomori Prefecture, and Ninohe City, Ichinohe Town, and Karumai Town in Iwate Prefecture.

Terashita Kannon is the first temple of the Oshu-Nanbu-Nukanobu Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage.

→ Oshu-Nanbu-Nukanobu Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage (Japanese Only)

Terashita Kannon and Ushioyama shrine Regular festival day

The third Sunday of May every year is a regular festival day.

May 18th (Sun), 2025

Location

We will show you the location of Terashita Kannon.

8 Akabonai Terashita, Hashikami-cho, Sannohe-gun, Aomori Prefecture, Japan

  • About 5km from JR Hachinohe Line Hashikami Station
  • About 3.1km from Hashikami Town Hall
  • About 5.9km from Tanesashi Coast Hashikamidake Interchange (Sanriku Coast Expressway)
  • About 2.9km from Hashikami Interchange (Sanriku Coast Expressway)