Temples and Shrines in East Ebisu
The precincts of the Ebisuiwaya Temple extended throughout the entire Ebisu Valley for several centuries, and the two temples and one shrine that still stand in a row in the Ebisu area were once part of that religious complex. They are a testament to the religious syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism that is the hallmark of religious practice on the Kunisaki Peninsula. Jissoin Temple is in the center, flanked by Reisenji Temple on the left and by Rokusho Shrine on the right.
At Reisenji, the vermilion-lacquered bell tower gate is flanked by two nio statues, the stone guardians who protect the shrine. Reisenji is also home to a large stone statue of Jizo Bosatsu (the savior of all sentient beings) which is over 6 meters tall. The neighboring Jissoin is home to the largest Kunisaki-to, or hoto (treasured pagoda), commonly found in Kunisaki Peninsula. Rokusho Shrine is literally “the shrine of six deities.” The six large trees standing in a row next to the shrine represent the six deities as does a nearby cave, in which the structure of the original shrine was constructed.