常安寺

Overview

Jōan-ji is a temple of the Shingon Buddhist Buzan school set in the hamlet of Ōtagi, in Kitakata City's Shiokawa-machi, Fukushima Prefecture. Its mountain name is Kōbai-zan, and it is also known as one of the sacred sites on the Aizu Sanjūsan Kannon pilgrimage route.

Highlights

• ●A Shingon Buzan temple set quietly in the Ōtagi hamlet of Kitakata's Shiokawa-machi
• ●The mountain name Kōbai-zan, meaning 'crimson plum mountain'
• ●Its standing as a sacred site on the Aizu Sanjūsan Kannon pilgrimage
• ●A rural setting best reached by car rather than public transport

History

No records survive to confirm exactly when Jōan-ji was founded, but as a temple carrying on the teachings of the Shingon Buzan school, it is believed to have grown alongside the Ōtagi community over the years. Those wanting a fuller account of its role within the Aizu Sanjūsan Kannon pilgrimage can inquire with Kitakata City's cultural affairs office.

Map

37.6084, 139.8458 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Walk through the Ōtagi hamlet and enter the grounds through the temple gate
2. 2Pay respects at the main hall, then look for any signage related to the Aizu Sanjūsan Kannon pilgrimage's stamp book
3. 3Take in details such as the Kōbai-zan name plaque around the grounds
4. 4Before leaving through the gate, pause for a moment to take in the quiet that settles over the Ōtagi hamlet

Did you know?

💡 The mountain name Kōbai-zan literally means 'crimson plum mountain.' Part of the appeal of touring the Aizu Sanjūsan Kannon pilgrimage is that even the mountain names alone reveal something of each temple's individual character.

Nearby spots