Buddhist temple
Minami Hokke-ji
南法華寺（みなみほっけじ）
Takatori, Takaichi District, Nara Prefecture
A temple standing on the mountain at Tsubosaka, temple No. 6 of the Saigoku Thirty-Three pilgrimage, fondly known as Tsubosaka-dera. Its principal image is Jūichimen Senju Kannon Bosatsu, and through the puppet play (ningyō jōruri) Tsubosaka Reigenki it has been revered as the Kannon of the eyes.
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 Senju Kannon Bosatsu
History and things to know
According to temple tradition, it is said to have begun in Taihō 3 (703) when the priest Benki of Gangō-ji, while practicing on this mountain, placed his beloved crystal jar (tsubo) in his hermitage and carved and enshrined the form of Kannon he had perceived. Since the 1960s the temple has been involved in relief and educational support in India, and through this connection many large stone statues have been welcomed into the grounds.
Introduced by this site, based on materials from the shrine or temple and public bodies.
Before you visit
It is generally known as Tsubosaka-dera. By bus, the temple is right by the Tsubosakadera-mae stop, but from Tsubosakadera-guchi it takes about 30 minutes on foot (official guide).
Official website of the shrine or temple (may be in Japanese)
Sources (in Japanese)
- 南法華寺「御祭神・御本尊・由緒の公式案内」（2026-10-22 確認）
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