Kasamori-dera

This Kasamori-dera, which I have visited, is a charming ancient temple built on Kasamori Mountain, about 100 meters above sea level. It is said to have been founded in 824, with Kannon Bodhisattva with eleven faces as its principal image. Within the temple grounds is the 'Shiho-take' (four-sided bamboo), designated as a National Important Cultural Property, its unique form surprising visitors. The three-storied pagoda is also beautiful, harmonizing with the surrounding nature. It stands in a quiet mountain setting, a place where one can calm their mind while feeling the breath of history and nature.