First Temple Visit of the New Year at Kanpuku-ji Temple

Kanpuku-ji Temple belongs to the Buzan sect of Shingon Buddhism and is a famous temple in Hokusō. It is regarded as one of the three great evil-warding daishi temples in Japan, along with Kawasaki Daishi and Nishiarai Daishi, and the principal object of worship is bodhisattva Aryavalokitesvara, the guardian Buddha of Taira no Masakado.

The temple treasures consist of four copper round plaques carrying the image of Shakyamuni, Eleven-Faced Avalokitesvara, Ksitigarbha, and Bhaisajyaguru. All of these plaques are nationally designated as Important Cultural Properties. Kanpuku-ji Temple is also home to the grave of Inoh Tadataka, the man who created the first map of Japan using actual measurements.

On New Year’s Eve, 108 people get to ring the temple bell. If you donate 1,000 yen when ringing the bell, you will receive an evil-warding wooden plaque or charm and you will be eligible to participate in a raffle in which everyone wins a prize.