Overview
Yakuo-ji is a temple of the Koyasan Shingon school located in Ueno, Ichikawamisato Town, Yamanashi Prefecture. Its mountain name is Kaho-zan and its cloister name Tamon-in, and it enshrines Tamonten (Bishamonten) as its principal image. As the first temple of the Kai Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage and the 95th of the Kai 108 Sacred Sites, it has long been cherished as a starting point for pilgrims, standing quietly in a tranquil rural corner of the town.
Highlights
- ●The first station and starting point of the Kai Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage
- ●Faith as the 95th temple of the Kai 108 Sacred Sites
- ●A Koyasan Shingon temple enshrining Tamonten (Bishamonten)
- ●The dignified setting known as Kaho-zan Tamon-in
History
The temple has continued as a Koyasan Shingon monastery known as Kaho-zan Tamon-in Yakuo-ji, enshrining Tamonten (Bishamonten) as its main object of worship. Positioned as the first station of the Kai Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage and the 95th of the Kai 108 Sacred Sites, it has received worshippers as a key point on Kai's pilgrimage routes since ancient times. Because accounts of its exact founding and later history vary, please confirm the precise details through on-site guidance and official sources.
Access
The temple lies in Ueno, Ichikawamisato Town, Nishiyatsushiro District, Yamanashi Prefecture, in the southwestern part of the Kofu Basin. By rail, the direction of Ichikawa-Daimon Station on the JR Minobu Line serves as a guide. As it is some distance from the station, a private car or taxi is convenient. Visiting hours and parking availability may change, so please check official sources before your visit.
Best season
The temple can be visited quietly throughout the year, but spring to early summer, when the greenery deepens, and autumn, wrapped in crisp air, are especially pleasant. As the first temple of the Kai Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage, many visitors come here to mark the beginning of their pilgrimage.
Map
35.5608, 138.5129 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Head to Ichikawamisato Town from the direction of Ichikawa-Daimon Station on the JR Minobu Line
- 2Pay respects to Tamonten at Yakuo-ji as the start of the pilgrimage
- 3Continue to the next stations of the Kai Kannon or Kai 108 pilgrimage
- 4Round off the day with the rural scenery and local flavors of Ichikawamisato
Did you know?
💡 Yakuo-ji is the very first station of the Kai Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage, giving it special meaning for worshippers who begin their journey here. That its principal image is Tamonten (Bishamonten) rather than a Kannon figure is a distinctive trait befitting the pilgrimage's starting point.
Nearby spots
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