1300 Years of History,
A Famous Temple,
Time-honored Tradition,
Beautiful in every season.

About Mizusawa Kannon Temple

Mizusawa Kannon Temple was founded by Ekan, a high ranking monk from Goryeo, more than 1300 years ago in accordance with an order of Emperor Suiko and Emperor Jitoh.
The name "Gotokuzan Mizusawadera" is from an imperial document handwritten by Emperor Suiko.

The precincts contain the Main Hall (Kannon Hall), a hexagonal two-storied pagoda (a prefectural designated important cultural property) enshrining the six good luck Jizo statues, the bell tower and the Shaka Hall.
The Shaka Hall enshrines the statues of the Shaka Triad, a sitting statue of Amida Buddha by the monk Enku (a city designated important cultural property), the statue of eleven-headed Kanzeon Bosatsu and many more.

Temple Precincts

Main Hall (Kannon Hall)

Main Hall (Kannon Hall) is at the center of the temple precincts and enshrines our principal Buddhist statue, Eleven-Headed Thousand-Armed Kanzeon Bosatsu. Eleven-Headed Thousand-Armed Kanzeon Bosatsu is known as the accommodating Kanzeon from ancient times. She offers aid and accommodates all wishes from living things. The building was completed in the middle of the Edo period (at a similar time to the hexagonal pagoda) and all sculptures have been carved out of the wood.

  • Main Hall (Kannon Hall)

    Main Hall

    The Main Hall (Kannon Hall) appears to have been built in the middle of the Edo period and was designated as an Ikaho Town Cultural Property in 1985.

  • Main Hall and Hexagonal Pagoda

    Main Hall and Rokkakudo

    The view of the Rokkakudo through the main hall is aesthetically pleasing.

  • Big Lantern of Main Hall

    Big Lantern of Main Hall

    The extended eaves and the cusped gable (Nokikarahafu) at the front of the main hall show the distinctive beauty of early modern architecture. They are an important remnant of period prefectural buildings, hinting back to medieval architecture.

  • Decorated with Carvings

    Decorated with Carvings

    At the extended eaves, you can see various beautiful decorations that have been sculpted through ‘carving in the round’ and ‘openwork’ techniques.

  • Principal Buddhist Statue; Eleven-Headed Thousand-Armed Kanzeon Bosatsu

    Principal Buddhist Statue; Eleven-Headed Thousand-Armed Kanzeon Bosatsu

    Our principal Buddhist statue, Eleven-Headed Thousand-Handed Kanzeon Bosatsu, used to be owned owned by Princess Ikaho. It is our hidden Buddhist statue now and not shown to the public.

  • Main Hall (Kannon Hall)
  • Main Hall and Hexagonal Pagoda
  • Big Lantern of Main Hall
  • Decorated with Carvings
  • Principal Buddhist Statue; Eleven-Headed Thousand-Armed Kanzeon Bosatsu

Rokkakudo (Jizodo)

Rokkakudo, meaning a hexagonal pagoda, has copper batten seam roofing and was completed in the middle of the Edo period. This building is a fine expression of Japanese Jizo faith. It enshrines the statues of six Jizo guarding the 6 realms (hellish, ghost, animal, human, demi-god and heavenly) and represents the Buddhist wheel of life. These statues are sitting on a rotating pedestal. If you pray with all your heart while turning this pedestal 3 times to the left, your wishes will come true.

  • Hexagonal Pagoda

    Rokkakudo

    Rokkakudo is a fine expression of Japanese Jizo faith. Six Jizo statues on a rotating pedestal are very rare and this is the only place you can see it in Japan.

  • Six Jizo

    Six Jizo

    For the Human realm, A Houkouoh Jizo Statue

  • Dainichi Buddha

    Dainichi Buddha

    A Dainichi Buddha statue is enshrined in the second story of Rokkakudo.

  • Hexagonal Pagoda
  • Six Jizo
  • Dainichi Buddha

Shaka Hall

The Shaka Hall is open to the public for free at this moment. Preservation work on the Niomon Gate, the Nio statues and the statues of The Shaka Triad was completed in November 1994 and work on the statues of The Wind God and The Thunder God was completed in November 1995.
Preservation work on the Main Hall and the bell tower was completed in October 1997 and work on our surrogate principal Buddhist statue (the statue of Eleven-Headed Thousand-Armed Thousand-Eyed Kanzeon Bosatsu) was completed in the following November. On this occasion, we enshrined the statues of The Shaka Triad in the Shaka Hall as a promise to protect all these important statues ever after, also enshrining a sitting statue of Amida Buddha by the monk Enku, twenty-eight Deities statues, Eleven-Headed Kanzeon Bosatsu statue and many more. Furthermore, to pray for well-being of household, business and other matters, we enshrined statues of Bandoh thirty-three Kanzeon Bosatsu, set up the Osunafumi places for pilgrimage and set the place for Kanzeon faith in the hall. Finally, the Shaka Hall was completed in July 2001.
Opening hours; 9am-4pm

  • Statues of The Shaka Triad

    Statues of The Shaka Triad

    The Shaka Hall enshrines a Shaka Buddha statue in the center, a statue of Monju Bosatsu, riding a lion, on the left and one of Fugen Bosatsu, riding an elephant, on the right.

  • Statue of Eleven-Faced Kanzeon Bosatsu

    Statue of Eleven-Headed Kanzeon Bosatsu

    This Kanzeon was made during the Heian period and is the symbolic statue of more than 1300 years of temple history. It was designated as a Shibukawa City Important Cultural Property in March 2016. It is said that this statue expresses the blessing of Buddha, the 11 heads taking 11 evils and anguishes from your heart and replacing them with 11 joys and contentments.

  • Thousand-Handed Kannon

    Statue of Thousand-Armed Kanzeon Bosatu

    Here we have also enshrined twenty-eight Deities statues, the statue of Eleven-Headed Kanzeon Bosatsu and many more.

  • Bandoh Thirty-Three Kannon Sacred Places

    Bandoh Thirty-Three Kannon Sacred Places

    This area introduces the thirty-three Kannon sacred places of Bandoh and each associated Buddhist statue. It enshrines thirty-three Kanzeon Bosatsu statues to pray for well-being of household, business and other matters and is set up with Osunafumi spots for pilgrimage.

  • Shaka Hall

    Shaka Hall

    Completed in July 2001.

  • Statues of The Shaka Triad
  • Statue of Eleven-Faced Kanzeon Bosatsu
  • Thousand-Handed Kannon
  • Bandoh Thirty-Three Kannon Sacred Places
  • Shaka Hall

Bell Tower

From ancient times, it has been said that Buddhas speak through temple bells. We express our appreciation for Mother Nature and pray for the countless Buddhas while listening to the bell in the morning and evening. You can join the ringing of the New Year’s Bell. Ring the bell, dismiss worldly desires, and welcome the new year.

  • Bell Tower

    Bell Tower

    You can ring the bell and pray, for a donation of 100 yen.

  • Taiwa Bell

    Taiwa Bell

    It was made in 1975.

Niomon Gate

The entrance path leads you to the Niomon Gate enshrining Nio, The Wind God and The Thunder God. This extremely colorful gate also enshrines the statues of the Shaka Triad in its second story.

  • Deva Gate

    Niomon Gate

    This gate was completed in the middle of the Edo period and has copper plate roofing, is two-storied and is of Irimoya architecture (a traditional East Asian architecture).

  • Nio Statues; Agyo (right)

    Nio Statues; Agyo (right)

    The Nios are called Kongorikishi, are holding Kongo pestles and are guardians of Shaka Buddha. The original statues are preserved in the Shaka Hall, so new ones were made and enshrined in the Niomon Gate.

  • Ceiling Painting by Kanno Tanun

    Ceiling Painting by Kano Tanun

    There is a dragon painting at the center of the ground floor ceiling of the gate. It is signed ‘by Hogen Kano Tanun 85 years old’.

  • Statues of The Shaka Triad

    Statues of The Shaka Triad

    A Fugen Bosatsu (left), a Shaka Buddha (center) and a Monju Bosatsu (right). The new statues of The Shaka Triad were made and enshrined because the original statues are preserved in the Shaka Hall along with the Nio statues.

Mizuko Jizo

The Mizuko Jizo is a guardian deity for the spirits of stillborn, miscarried or aborted children. Of course, parents wish their children’s spirits happiness and joy in heaven. However, it is said that these unfortunate children, who couldn’t achieve their destiny of birth and the ones who left this realm due to accidents or sickness, are bullied by demons at Children's Limbo, crying ‘I miss my dad. I miss my mum.’ The Mizuko Jizo is the one who protects those children in place of their parents. Our Mizuko Jizo statue shows children clinging to the Jizo, being protected by it.
Even only praying to the Jizo is a good, small memorial service for the children. We recommend you pray and entrust your message to the Jizo and hold a small memorial service for the children whose lives couldn’t be saved in this realm.
Gassho (Hands in a prayer position)

  • Mizuko Jizo Statue

    Mizuko Jizo Statue

    The Mizuko Jizo who protects the spirits of stillborn, miscarried, aborted and newborn children in place of their parents.

  • Mizuko Jizo Statues

    Mizuko Jizo Statues

    You can apply for a memorial service for those children at the temple shop (Ofudaba).

  • Mizuko Jizo Statue
  • Mizuko Jizo Statues

FAQ

  • Who founded Mizusawa Kannon Temple?
    Ekan, a high ranking monk from Goryeo.
  • What is the difference between shrines and temples?
    Temples are Buddhist. Shrines are Shinto. They are different religions.
  • Teach me how to pray at the temple.
    There are many ways to pray. It is good enough if you pray from your heart while putting your hands in a prayer position.
  • Can foreigners be blessed?
    Yes, nationalities do not matter.
  • What is Bandoh thirty-three Kannon?
    Bandoh thirty-three Kannon was founded at the wish of Minamoto no Yoritomo. It means the 33 Kannon sacred places in the Kanto region. It is said that Yoritomo established this pilgrimage circuit after the model of sacred places in the Kansai region.
  • Does Mizusawa Kannon Temple belong to the same school as Sensoji Temple?
    No. Sensoji Temple belongs to the Seikannon school and Mizusawa Kannon Temple to the Tendai school.
  • How were Mizusawa Kannon Temple and the Tokugawa shogunate related?
    Mizusawa Kannon Temple was the Tokugawa shogunate’s place of prayer.
  • How much is the entrance fee?
    We don’t charge for entrance or parking.
  • How long does the visit take?
    It takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  • It there a parking lot?
    There are free parking lots. The big parking lot has spaces for 30 large vehicles, 400 standard vehicles and motorcycles. There is no time limit. There is also a parking lot in front of the gate.
  • Can I bring my pet into the temple precincts?
    Yes, but pets are not allowed to enter the halls. It is also necessary to keep them on leads.
  • Can I bring food?
    Yes, you can as long as it doesn’t bother other people. And please smoke only in the designated smoking areas.
  • Can I use the photos I took in the temple precincts?
    Taking photos inside the halls and sacred places is prohibited. However, you can use photos you take in the temple precincts for personal use. Please apply for permission if you want to use them for commercial use.
  • Do I need a reservation to get a blessing or for a small memorial service?
    We don’t have a reservation system. Please register between 10:00am and 3:30pm everyday.
  • Is it possible to ask for charms and talismans to be sent home?
    It is possible. We send them by home delivery service. You pay the sending fee and a service fee. Please contact us by phone for details.
    *Sending is limited to Japanese addresses.

Access

Mizusawa Kannon Temple

214 Mizusawa Ikaho Shibukawa City, Gunma 〒377-0103
TEL.0279-72-3619 / FAX.0279-72-4629

  • By Train（Recommended）

    From JR Takasaki Station
    Take Gunma Bus「Ikaho Onsen」
    →「Mizusawa Kannon」

    From JR Shibukawa Sation
    Take Gunma Bus「Ikaho Onsen」
    →「Mizusawa Kannon」

  • By Car

    About 20min. from Shibukawa Ikaho IC