Kitamuki Kannon 北向観音

Before visiting Zenko-ji in Nagano prefecture, I stayed overnight in Bessho-onsen.  Bessho-onsen is famous for being the oldest hot spring town in Nagano with historical shrines and temples. Bessho-onsen is called “Kamakura” (an historical sightseeing area like Nara and Kyoto) in “Shinshu” which is the old name for Nagano prefecture.

Among the shrines and temples, we can see Kitamuki-kannon-do, which is a temple with a Bodhisattva statue facing north as its landmark. A Bodhisattva image is usually placed facing west, therefore this temple is called “Kitamuki” (the North direction) because of its unique orientation. Kitamuki-kannon is the Bodhisattva that saves people from suffering and  gives divine protection to the world. The Amida-nyorai image, which is placed at Zenkoji temple is a Buddhist image that saves people and blesses them in the next world. People believe that if they visit both Kitamuki-kannon-do and Zenkoji to pray they can complete a pilgrimage. I appreciated my friend to inviting me to go with her!