Jakushō-ji Temple

Overview

Jakusho-ji is a temple of the Tendai school in the city of Tendo, Yamagata. Also known as Wakamatsu Kannon, it is widely cherished as a Kannon of matchmaking, spoken of in the same breath as the famous Izumo Taisha shrine in the saying 「Izumo in the west, Wakamatsu in the east.」 It serves as the first of the thirty-three temples on the Mogami Sanjusan Kannon pilgrimage and is a temple of long standing that has welcomed pilgrims and worshippers for centuries.

Highlights

• ●Its faith as a matchmaking Kannon, spoken of as 「Izumo in the west, Wakamatsu in the east」
• ●The dignity of being the first temple on the Mogami Sanjusan Kannon pilgrimage
• ●Grounds that carry on the Kannon-pilgrimage history dating from the Muromachi period
• ●A quiet setting on the hillside of Tendo, the town of shogi and hot springs

History

In the Muromachi period the Kannon-pilgrimage faith that had flourished in western Japan spread eastward, and it was in this current that Jakusho-ji came to be designated the first temple of the Mogami Sanjusan Kannon pilgrimage. Renowned enough for its blessings of good matches to be paired as 「Izumo in the west, Wakamatsu in the east,」 it has gathered popular devotion throughout its long history. For the detailed story of its founding, please check the official information.

Map

38.3631, 140.4189 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head up from central Tendo to the hillside and enter the grounds of Jakusho-ji
2. 2Pay your respects to the Kannon and offer a prayer for a good match
3. 3Take your first step on the pilgrimage as the opening temple of the Mogami Sanjusan Kannon
4. 4Afterwards drop by Tendo Onsen to soothe your travels and round off the day

Did you know?

💡 The very fact that it is paired as 「Izumo in the west, Wakamatsu in the east」 shows how deep a devotion this temple has drawn as a sacred place of matchmaking. For those wishing for a good relationship, it is known as one of the foremost Kannon pilgrimage sites in the Tohoku region.

Nearby spots