＜Shobo-ji Temple, The 12th Temple of the Saigoku Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage, Mt. Iwama＞A Temple Loved by People Where History and Nature Coexist｜OtsuFor recommended sightseeing and leisure spots inTabiiro

A Temple Loved by People Where History and Nature Coexist

A temple near the summit of Mt. Iwama, approximately 443 meters above sea level, on the border between Shiga and Kyoto, Iwama Temple has been cherished by generations of pilgrims. During the Muromachi period, it was designated as the 12th temple of the 33 Saigoku pilgrimage sites. Its principal image is the "Thousand-Armed Kannon Bodhisattva," also known as "Sweaty Kannon" and "Boke-Blocking Kannon." Surrounded by lush trees, a majestic ginkgo, and the tranquil Basho Pond, this mountain temple offers a serene setting to enjoy nature.

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"Boke-Shuji Horoku Moxibustion" to Pray for a Long and Healthy Life

"Boke-Fuji Horoku Moxibustion" is held on the third Sunday of May and October every year. It is said that wearing a ceramic plate called "horoku" on your head and placing a lit moxa on it stimulates the "hyakue" pressure point, offering beneficial effects. As a result, people of all ages come to pray.

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Feel the Power of Ancient Sacred Trees

Within the precincts, sacred trees are revered. In front of the Hondo (Main Hall) stands the approximately 500-year-old Hibushi Ginkgo tree, beneath which the "Inazuma Ryūō" ("Lightning Dragon King") is enshrined and venerated. In the rear, a majestic Katsura tree—known as "Japan's Longest‑Lived Katsura," approximately 1,000 years old and selected as one of the top 100 famous trees in Uji City, Kyoto—towers, evoking the power of nature.

Detailed information

Choose Your Favorite Goshuin to Commemorate Your Visit

There is a wide variety of goshuin stamps, and among them, the "cut-out goshuin" (available for a limited time only), which features beautiful, delicate cut-out designs, is fun to photograph. Typically, goshuin stamps include "Bokefu Kannon," "Thunderguard," "Shirahime Ryujin," and "Fudo Myoo," so be sure to collect them after visiting the shrine.

01."Basho's Pond" – The site where Matsuo Basho wrote the famous poem: "An old pond, the sound of water when a frog jumps"
02.Yamasho Night Visit – A special light-up event held from late November to early December, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
03.Mochi-Pounding Tournament – A free annual event held at the end of December

Shobo-ji Temple, The 12th Temple of the Saigoku Thirty-Three Kannon Pilgrimage, Mt. Iwama

Address

82 Ishiyama Uchihata Town, Otsu City, Shiga

Access

[Car] Approximately 11 minutes from Keiji Bypass Ishiyama IC, approximately 15 minutes from Meishin Expressway Seta Nishi IC [Train] Approximately 21 minutes by car from Ishiyama Station on the JR Biwako Line or Keihan Ishiyama Station on the Keihan Electric Railway Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line

Official Website

https://iwama-dera.or.jp/

TEL

+81-77-534-2412Please inform the staff that you found us through "Tabiiro".

FAX

+81-77-534-6918

SNS

Business hours

9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Regular Holiday

Open-all-year-round

Fee

Entrance fee: 700 yen

Parking

20 spaces

Event information

[Regular] every 3rd sunday of the month: strict observance service for the principal image of Senju Kannon on Ennichi (see instagram for details)

- September 1st to 8th: Principal image of senju kannon on display
- September 1st: Dedication service for the opening display of the principal image of senju kannon
- October 20th: Moxibustion prayer meeting for preventing senility
- December 15th: Healthy longevity – daikon radish stew for preventing senility
- December 21st and 22nd: Mochi (Sticky rice cake) pounding competition for guest entertainment