Kurusonzan Shuzenji Temple

Temple of Prayer, Kannon Sacred Site, Special Head Temple of the Shingon Sect Daigo School, Kurusonzan Shuzenji Temple

"Kuruson" is a transliteration of Sanskrit and means "fulfill one's dearest wish". Kurusonzan Shuzenji Temple is a sacred place of Kannon that was founded by Kobo Daishi and restored by Zen Master Eisai, and is widely known as Odake Kannon. It is also the head temple of the 88 sacred places of Kurusonzan. The principal image is the Eleven-Headed Kannon Bodhisattva.

Mount Kurusonzan (616m), the mountain where wishes come true, is also known as "Odake". Since ancient times, it has been a sacred mountain for Shugendo and a sacred site of Kannon, where many great monks, including Kobo Daishi (founder) and Eisai Zenji (restorer), have stayed.

During the feudal era, it was a place of prayer for the Mori family and the Mori domain as a Shingon Esoteric Buddhist temple renowned for its miraculous powers.

The temple-owned forest covers an area of 260 hectares and is densely covered with old cedar trees. Among them, the "Ippon-sugi" cedar, a cultural property designated by Shimonoseki City, tells the history of the temple. From the summit, you can enjoy magnificent views of the Sea of Japan, the Kanmon region of Kitakyushu, the Seto Inland Sea, and the Choshu mountain range.

In addition, the entire mountain has been designated a national place of scenic beauty under the Cultural Properties Protection Act, and is also part of Yamaguchi Prefectural Natural Park.

The distance from the parking lot to the main hall is 750m (20-30 minutes on foot).

From the main hall, you can see the Kyushu mountains in the distance.

There are well-maintained hiking trails that run from the base of the mountain gate to the "inner sanctuary" and even to the summit.

It is about 950m to the inner sanctuary.

Shimonoseki City designated cultural property and natural monument, Kurusonzan Shuzenji Ipponsugi (one cedar tree) Designated on January 12, 1989

This cedar, known as "Ipponsugi" (Single Cedar), is located about 60m to the left of the Niomon Gate in front of the main hall. It is a giant tree estimated to be about 1,200 years old, with a diameter at breast height of 3.2m and a height of 57m.

The primeval forest in this area is known as "Kurusonzan Forest" and is home to lush evergreen broad-leaved forests, including red oak communities, that are over 300 to 500 years old. "Kurusonzan" was designated a national place of scenic beauty on August 30, 1940 under the Cultural Properties Protection Act, and was also designated as Toyota Prefectural Natural Park on March 1, 1962.

March 20, 2012

Shimonoseki City Board of Education