Buddhist temple
Matsunoo-dera
松尾寺（まつのおでら）
Maizuru, Kyoto Prefecture
A temple of the Daigo school of the Shingon sect halfway up Mount Aoba in Maizuru City, and the 29th temple of the Saigoku Thirty-Three Kannon pilgrimage. Its principal image is a seated Batō Kanzeon Bosatsu, worshipped as a buddha that protects farming, cattle and horses, and travel.
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: Batō Kanzeon Bosatsu (seated statue)
History and things to know
According to the temple's tradition, in the Keiun era the Tang monk 威光 Shōnin climbed Mount Aoba, perceived Batō Kannon beneath a great pine tree, and in Wadō 1 (708) built a hermitage; this is said to be the beginning. Emperor Toba is said to have visited in Gen'ei 2 (1119), and after repeated fires the present main hall was repaired in Kyōhō 15 (1730).
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Related kami and buddhas
Before you visit
It is halfway up the mountain: about a 50-minute walk from Matsunoodera Station on the JR Obama Line, and about 40 minutes on foot from the Matsunoodera-guchi bus stop.
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 松尾寺「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-22 確認）
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