Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage

The Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage (西国三十三所 Saigoku Sanjūsan-sho?) 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 bangai (番外?). The principal image in each temple is Kannon, known to Westners as the 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 prayer book (納経帖 Nōkyō-chō?), 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. Pilgrims receive the stamps and calligraphy on wall scrolls and on their white coats as well.

The Thirty-Three Temples

No. Temple Name Prefecture
1 Seiganto-ji Wakayama
2 Ki-mii-dera Wakayama
3 Kokawa-dera Wakayama
4 Sefuku-ji Osaka
5 Fujii-dera Osaka
6 Tsubosaka-dera Nara
7 Oka-dera Nara
8 Hase-dera Nara
9 Nan'endō Nara
10 Mimuroto-ji Kyoto
11 Kami Daigo-ji Kyoto
12 Iwama-dera Shiga
13 Ishiyama-dera Shiga
14 Mii-dera Shiga
15 Imakumano Kannon-ji Kyoto
16 Kiyomizu-dera Kyoto
17 Rokuharamitsu-ji Kyoto
18 Chōhō-ji (Rokkaku-dō) Kyoto
19 Gyōgan-ji Kyoto
20 Yoshimine-dera Kyoto
21 Anao-ji Kyoto
22 Sōji-ji Osaka
23 Katsuō-ji Osaka
24 Nakayama-dera Hyōgo
25 Kiyomizu-dera Hyōgo
26 Ichijō-ji Hyōgo
27 Engyō-ji Hyōgo
28 Nariai-ji Kyoto
29 Matsunoo-dera Kyoto
30 Hōgon-ji Shiga
31 Chōmei-ji Shiga
32 Kannonshō-ji Shiga
33 Kegon-ji Gifu

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