Overview
Kurotori Kannon is a Soto Zen temple perched on a hilltop in Higashine, Yamagata Prefecture. Its mountain name is Toneisan and its formal name Toneisan Shujuin, but locals affectionately call it simply Kurotori Kannon. Originally a Shingon temple, it enshrines a statue of the Eleven-Faced Kannon said to have been carved by the revered monk Jikaku Daishi. It is both a quiet place of worship and a fine viewpoint overlooking the Murayama Basin.
Highlights
- ●A Soto Zen temple enshrining an Eleven-Faced Kannon attributed to Jikaku Daishi
- ●Numerous mukasari ema votive tablets, a custom unique to this region, offered in the main hall
- ●A grand panorama of the Murayama Basin and Higashine town from the pavilion lookout
- ●Distant views of the Gassan, Hayama and Chokai peaks of the old Dewa Sanzan
History
Kurotori Kannon began as a Shingon temple and later became a Soto Zen temple. Its principal image, the Eleven-Faced Kannon, is attributed to Jikaku Daishi, the celebrated monk credited with founding many temples across the Tohoku region, and it has long been an object of Kannon devotion. Inside the main hall hang numerous mukasari ema, votive tablets unique to this part of Yamagata, some including photographs, offered in prayer for the peaceful rest of the departed.
Access
The temple stands on high ground in the hills of Higashine, looking down over the Murayama Basin. A parking area near the hilltop precinct makes visiting by car convenient. Because public transport, road conditions and opening hours can vary with the season, it is best to check the latest information from Higashine city or official tourism sources before you go.
Best season
Early summer, when the fresh green is at its brightest, and autumn, when clear air reveals distant mountain ranges, are especially rewarding. The grounds double as Kurotori Park, where the scenery shifts with the seasons. In winter, snow and icy roads can make the mountain approach difficult, so check road conditions before setting out.
Map
38.4321, 140.4113 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Park at the hilltop lot and make your way to the temple
- 2Offer prayers to the principal image and quietly view the mukasari ema
- 3Walk to the pavilion lookout in Kurotori Park to enjoy the basin view
- 4Rest a while, taking in the distant peaks of Gassan, Hayama and Chokai
Did you know?
💡 The area around the hilltop parking lot is laid out as Kurotori Park, and from the park's pavilion lookout you can gaze down over the Murayama Basin and the town of Higashine, with the ranges of Gassan, Hayama and Chokai, the historic Dewa Sanzan mountains, rising in the distance. The chance to combine worship with such a sweeping view is this temple's special charm.
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