Senkoji Temple Icon of Onomichi

 

Senkoji, temple number 10 on the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage is located on the mountainside overlooking the historic town and port of Onomichi.

On this trip I visited by taking the ropeway to the top of the mountain and then walking down to the temple. These first two shots were taken from the cablecar on the way up.

The views from above the temple are stupendous...

I have visited Senkoji several times before, so on this visit I passed through pretty quickly and didn't take so many photos.

The temple was founded in 806, with some saying by Kobo Daishi himself.

The temple was restored in the 10th century by Minamoto Mitsunaka.

The temple is about 140 meters up the mountain so the views are still quite magnificent.

The current main hall dates to 1686

There are numerous large rock outcroppings around the temple, the biggest being known as Tamanoiwa

The honzon is a Thousand-armed Kannon. It is a secret Buddha only shown to the public once every 33 years.

However a replica stand-in is in front of the altar ( 2 photos below)

The previous post in this series on day 11 of my Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage walk was on Saigokuji Temple, the biggest temple in Onomichi.

Not far below Senkoji on the temple walk route is the Tenneiji Pagoda, a classic photo spot.