Sazae-do

The interior of Sazae-do Temple has a "double helix structure," so you won't pass anyone going up or down. The spiral slope continues endlessly, and the ascent from the entrance is clockwise, while the descent from the top is counterclockwise, leading directly to the exit. The internal structure is so complex that it's easy to get confused just thinking about it, with the ceiling of the ascent route becoming the floor of the descent route. Thanks to the structure where you don't pass anyone, the interior never gets crowded, allowing you to visit at a leisurely pace. Experience the complex and mysterious Sazae-do Temple for yourself.

Sazae-do used to house the 33 Kannon statues of the Saigoku Pilgrimage, with a donation box in front of each statue, resulting in a total of 33 donation boxes. It may seem difficult to collect money from all the boxes, but in reality, the inside is connected, allowing the thrown donations to flow down and gather in one place. Additionally, there is a place where the slopes for going up and down are connected, allowing visitors to re-visit any Kannon statue they may have missed. Despite being built in 1796, the interior of the temple is full of innovative ideas and is truly magnificent!

In the Edo period, visiting the 33 temples in the western part of Japan was a luxurious dream for the common people. They didn't have the time or money to make the pilgrimage, so they had no choice but to give up on their dream. However, with the establishment of Sazae-do, a temple that houses the 33 Kannon statues of the western provinces, it became possible for the common people to easily make the pilgrimage, and finally their dream came true. Sazae-do, where you can see all 33 Kannon statues at once, became popular among the common people, and many people visited to pay their respects. You can see how popular it was from the large number of prayer plaques posted inside. From this seemingly "strange" sight, let's feel the wishes of the people.

At the Sazaedo Square, a memorial service is held on August 23, the day when the White Tiger Corps committed seppuku, and a light-up event is held at the Sazaedo temple. The inside of the temple is illuminated in red, and performances of traditional Japanese instruments are held on the stage in front. In addition to the illumination, a fantastic event called the "LED Memorial Ball" is held, where the spirits are calmed by floating the balls on the pond as a gesture of gratitude and memorial to the ancestors. When visiting in the summer, be sure to participate in the memorial service.

Located within Mt. Iimori, Sazae-do Hall is surrounded by lush greenery. Near Sazae-do Hall, water flows abundantly from the Tonokuchi Dam Cave, which was passed by the Shinsengumi's White Tiger Corps. It's a popular summer retreat due to the cool water. There are also Tonokuchi Dam Water God Shrine and Itsukushima Shrine, creating a charming and atmospheric space. Why not spend a peaceful time surrounded by the sound of flowing water and the surrounding greenery?