Osu Kannon Temple

This temple is the branch headquarters of Shingon Sect, Chisan School, officially called “Kitanosan Shinpukuji Hoshoin Temple ”. It started in Hashima City, Gifu and moved to the current location by General Tokugawa Iyeyasu’s order. It is regarded as one of Japan’s Three Kannon Temples along with Asakusa Kannon in Tokyo and Tsu Kannon in Mie.

It houses the Hotei statue, one of Nagoya’s Seven Deities of Good Luck. Osu Book Storehouse/ Library holds 15,000 books including the national treasure, Kojiki manuscripts.

The main hall that houses the principal statue, Sho Kannon , is the heart of Osu Kannon. In the Meiji era (late 1800s), the Osu inferno and the war burned it down twice. The current main hall was rebuilt in 1970. On either side of the Niomon Gate are enshrined statues of Nio, who protect the mountains from evil.

There are multiple events throughout the year, such as the “Treasure Ship Parade” and the ritual of “Fuku no kami Oni oi no gishiki, a ceremony in which the god of good fortune drives away demons that has been held since the Muromachi period on the Setsubun (seasonal division) on February 3 . On the 18th and 28th of every month, an antique market is held, which attracts a lot of people.

On the east side of Osu Kannon, there is the Osu shopping District, where you can find a wide variety of stores, including restaurants, second-hand clothing stores and electronics stores.