Buddhist temple
Anyō-ji (Mimasaka)
安養寺（美作市）（あんようじ）
Mimasaka, Okayama Prefecture
A temple of the Shingon school, Omuro branch, which descends from the head temple Ninna-ji, in Hayashino, Mimasaka. Its principal image is a standing Jūichimen Kanzeon Bosatsu, an Important Cultural Property of Japan; as a hidden image, it is shown to the public every 33 years.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Prayers associated with this place
Principal image: Jūichimen Kanzeon Bosatsu (the official notation is １１面観世音菩薩)
History and things to know
According to the temple's tradition, it is said to carry on the lineage of 間山高福寺, which is said to have been founded by Prince Shōtoku. It was built on 間山 in 上相 in 1601, and in Kanbun 3 (1663) it became a direct branch temple of Ninna-ji and received the name Niō-in. In Genroku 10 (1697) it moved to its present location in Hayashino, where Mori Tadamasa's villa had been.
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Before you visit
There are temples with the same name in various places. This is 間山 Anyō-ji in Hayashino, Mimasaka. Every year on the night of the second Saturday of February, the grounds are crowded for the Eyō (naked festival).
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 安養寺（美作市）「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-22 確認）
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