Kinomoto Jizo-in Temple
木之本地蔵院
This temple, visited by historical figures, offers spiritual cleansing and eye ailment cures.
What it is
- Temple at a major crossroads, center of Kinomoto-juku.
- Visited by historical figures like Kūkai and Ashikaga Takauji.
- Principal object of worship is a statue of Jizō.
- Jizō is believed to cure ailments of the eyes.
What to see
- Statue of the bodhisattva Jizō.
- Frogs in the garden.
- Countless figures of one-eyed frogs.
- Winding, pitch-black corridor under the temple.
In detail
This temple’s location at a major crossroads testifies to its significance: it was originally the center of Kinomoto-juku. Many prominent historical figures are said to have visited the temple, including the priest Kūkai (774–835) and the founder of the Ashikaga shogunate, Ashikaga Takauji (1305–1358).
The temple’s principal object of worship is a statue of the bodhisattva Jizō. This incarnation of Jizō is believed to cure ailments of the eyes. According to temple lore, the frogs that live in the garden show compassion for suffering worshippers by offering prayers to the bodhisattva on their behalf. It is said that a frog permanently closes one of its eyes in sacrifice each time a worshipper receives Jizō’s aid. To show their thanks, temple-goers have left the countless little figures of one-eyed frogs that are piled in different areas of the temple.
Today, visitors may descend under the temple into absolute darkness and walk through a winding pitch-black corridor with only the walls for a guide. The experience is believed to be spiritually cleansing.
Text: 観光庁 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース. Reproduced unchanged. The notes above were written from that text by Japan Gems.
Where it is
滋賀県長浜市木之本町木之本944 Open in Google Maps
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