Koyasu Kannon
The Giver of Children
The text on the nameplate left by the villager who constructed this temple informs us that local women were widely believed to be blessed with easy births, which led to the veneration of Koyasu Kannon. One of the many forms of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, Koyasu Kannon grants fertility and safe delivery, and assists with childrearing. This temple was built in 1865, after the previous structure was destroyed in a landslide.
Inside is a finely crafted coffered ceiling and paneled walls. You may also notice some wooden phalluses dedicated to the goddess by couples hoping to conceive. A festival honoring Koyasu Kannon is held every year in April.
The weeping cherry tree beside the temple survived landslides in both 1865 and 1904, and has been designated a natural treasure.