Nakayama-dera

Nakayama-dera is the head temple (daihonzan) of the Shingon sect’s Nakayama-dera branch, located in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture. It is also known as the 24th temple of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage. According to temple tradition, it was founded by Prince Shotoku and is regarded as Japan’s earliest Kannon pilgrimage site. Access is about a 1-minute walk from Hankyu Takarazuka Line Nakayamadera (Nakayama-Kannon) Station, or about a 10-minute walk from JR Takarazuka Line Nakayama-dera Station. Long revered as one of Japan’s foremost places to pray for safe childbirth, it has been cherished by the imperial family, aristocrats, warriors, and common people alike; it is said that Toyotomi Hideyoshi prayed here and was blessed with Hideyori. The principal image, a standing Eleven-Headed Kannon Bosatsu, is believed to date from the early Heian period and is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Since ancient times, August 9 has been called “Shiman-rokusen-nichi Kudokubi” (Day of 46,000 Days’ Merit): visiting on that day is said to bring the same merit as completing the entire Saigoku pilgrimage, and to confer a lifetime’s worth of merit in a single day. Highlights include the main hall and goma hall, traditionally attributed to Toyotomi Hideyori’s rebuilding, and a five-story pagoda rebuilt in recent years.