Shishiochi kannon-dō Temple

Overview

Shishiochi Kannon-dō is a Kannon hall in Taihaku Ward, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. It stands at the eastern edge of Kyōgamine, the wooded ridge that also holds Zuihōden, the mausoleum of the Date lords, on a rise looking down over the Hirose River. As the 33rd and final station of the Sendai Thirty-three Kannon pilgrimage, it is the place where pilgrims complete their circuit, offering a pocket of calm that feels remote despite being close to the city center.

Highlights

• ●The 33rd and concluding station of the Sendai Thirty-three Kannon pilgrimage
• ●A storied setting at the eastern edge of Kyōgamine, home to the Date mausoleum Zuihōden
• ●A quiet outlook from a rise above the Hirose River
• ●A tranquil hall of prayer reached by climbing the steep, aptly named Shishiochi-zaka

History

The Sendai Thirty-three Kannon is a Kannon pilgrimage that drew devotion across the former castle town of the Sendai domain, and Shishiochi Kannon-dō serves as its concluding 33rd station. The Kyōgamine ridge on which the hall sits also holds Zuihōden, the mausoleum of Date Masamune, showing how long this hillside has been a place of prayer for the people of Sendai. For details of the hall's founding, please refer to on-site signage or official information from the city.

Map

38.2486, 140.8673 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Cross the Hirose River toward the foot of Kyōgamine
2. 2Climb Shishiochi-zaka and offer a completion prayer at the Kannon hall
3. 3Continue to nearby Zuihōden to view the Date family mausoleum
4. 4Enjoy the view of the river and city from the rise before descending

Did you know?

💡 The place name Shishiochi-zaka, meaning the slope where a deer once fell, survives to this day and lends the site its name. As the fulfillment station of the thirty-three Kannon pilgrimage, it is the special final stop for those who come to pray that their wishes be granted.

Nearby spots