Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage

The Kansai Kannon Pilgrimage or Saigoku Kannon Junrei (西国三十三霊場 Saigoku Sanjūsan Reijō) is a pilgrimage of thirty-three Buddhist temples throughout the Kansai region of Japan, similar to but less notable than the famous Shikoku Pilgrimage. In addition to the official thirty-three, there are three extras (番外 bangai). The principal image in each temple is Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy; however, there is some variation among the images and the powers they possess.

It is traditional for pilgrims to wear white clothing and conical straw hats and to carry walking sticks. While the route was historically traveled by foot, today pilgrims usually use cars or trains. Pilgrims record their progress with a prayer book (納経帖 Nōkyōchō), which the temple staff mark with red stamps and Japanese calligraphy indicating the temple number, the temple name, and the specific name of the Kannon image. Pilgrims receive the stamps and calligraphy on wall scrolls and on their white coats as well.

The Thirty-Three Temples

No.	Temple Name	Prefecture
1	Seigantoji	Wakayama
2	Kimiidera	Wakayama
3	Kokawadera	Wakayama
4	Sefukuji	Osaka
5	Fujiidera	Osaka
6	Tsubosakadera	Nara
7	Okadera	Nara
8	Hasedera	Nara
9	Nan'endō	Nara
10	Mimurotoji	Kyoto
11	Kamidaigoji	Kyoto
12	Iwamadera	Shiga
13	Ishiyamadera	Shiga
14	Miidera	Shiga
15	Imagumano Kannonji	Kyoto
16	Kiyomizudera	Kyoto
17	Rokuharamitsuji	Kyoto
18	Rokkakudō	Kyoto
19	Gyōganji	Kyoto
20	Yoshiminedera	Kyoto
21	Anaoji	Kyoto
22	Sōjiji	Osaka
23	Katsuōji	Osaka
24	Nakayamadera	Hyōgo
25	Kiyomizudera	Hyōgo
26	Ichijōji	Hyōgo
27	Engyōji	Hyōgo
28	Nariaiji	Kyoto
29	Matsunoodera	Kyoto
30	Hōgonji	Shiga
31	Chōmeiji	Shiga
32	Kannonshōji	Shiga
33	Kegonji	Gifu

External links

• Pictures of all temples