Buddhist temple
Gesshō-ji
月照寺（げっしょうじ）
Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture
A Sōtō Zen temple on Hitomaruyama in Akashi, formally styled 人麿山 Gesshō-ji. Its principal image is Shaka Nyorai, and it is known as a temple with deep ties to Kakinomoto no Hitomaro.
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: Shaka Nyorai
History and things to know
According to the temple's tradition, in Kōnin 2 (811) Kūkai founded 楊柳寺 on the site of what is now the Akashi Castle ruins, and in Ninna 3 (887) it received an Eleven-faced Kannon said to have been Hitomaro's personal devotional image and was renamed Gesshō-ji. It became a Sōtō temple in Tenshō 2 (1574), and with the building of Akashi Castle it moved to its present site in Genna 8 (1622).
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Related kami and buddhas
Before you visit
The Hitomaru shrine, which was once one with the temple, was separated from it in the separation of Shinto and Buddhism in Meiji 4 (1871) and became a separate shrine (Kakinomoto Jinja).
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 月照寺「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-22 確認）
This site is independent of the shrines, temples, and other websites mentioned. No partnership or endorsement is implied.