Osu Kannon
Osu Kannon Photos ( 8
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What Can You Do There
1. Pray for Good Luck, Happy Marriage…
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This temple enshrines Kannon Statue and Baggy Gods. Kannon Statue is a wooden statue of Kannon, which symbolizes great compassion in Buddhism. It is said that this wooden statue of Kannon was carved by Kūkai (774-835), the founder of the Tantrism. Although the original temple was almost destroyed in the fire, this statue of Kannon survived miraculously. “Baggy Gods” is one of the "Seven Blessings Gods of Nagoya", scattered in the urban area of Nagoya.
You can pray to Kannon Statue and Baggy Gods for disaster relief, family safety, prosperous business, and academic success. The shrine also holds a special praying activity. It is conducted in a way that firewood is burned at the altar where the deity is worshipped, and offerings are placed. It is held at 9 am and 3 pm every day, which may change when there are special events.
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2. Shop for Unique Antiques at Antique Market
There is an antique market on every 18th and 28th. At that time, there will be about 60 stalls selling souvenirs, antiques, exquisite artworks, and a wide variety of daily items, such as tea sets, bowls, plates, hanging scrolls, and miso bottles, some of which are hard to find in other markets at a cheap price.On October 28th, Banshoji, a local temple that is a few steps far from the Osu Shōtengai Shopping Street, will also hold a similar market and host a unique mechanical doll performance.
3. Attend Scripture Copying Activity
Osu Kannon holds several “scripture copying activities” every year. It is the practice of copying Buddhist scriptures with a fountain pen, and after completion, they are worshipped before the deity of Osu Kannon. Although the original purpose of copying scriptures was to pray and offer sacrifices, you can also feel relaxed if you carefully and cautiously focus on copying about 300 words of “Heart Sutra”.4. Take Part in Various Festivals Throughout the Year
There are various festivals throughout the year and below are some of the most popular:February 3rd is a Japanese festival aimed at celebrating the arrival of spring. On that day, monks will spread beans to the public on a large platform raised outside the temple to ward off evil spirits and prevent disasters.
On the weekend closest to March 17th, you can participate in a parade by the Nagoya Irish community, following them through the Osu Shōtengai Shopping Street to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
In October, you can see bizarre, interesting, and highly talented artists, musicians, and acrobats at the Osu Street Performers Festival.
5. Enjoy Delicacies and Shopping at Osu Shōtengai Shopping Street
After visiting Osu Kannon, you can go to Osu Shōtengai Shopping Street to enjoy delicacies and go shopping. There are crispy fried bun sticks, a snack wrapping fragrant fillings in sponge cakes, the popular fresh fruit juice, and the unique “HAPPY PAN” with the flavor of pineapple bread that is crispy outside and soft inside. In addition, there are also over 1200 stores including groceries, fashion and souvenir shops.Collects Over 15,000 Ancient Books
A highlight of Osu Kannon is over 15,000 valuable literary works collected in the Shinpukuji Library, Japan’s oldest book-house. Among these books, there are 4 national treasures and 37 important cultural treasures, including Kojiki, the oldest surviving historical book in Japan, and Nihon Reiki, the collection of Buddhist works from the Heian Era (794-1192). It is a pity that the Shinpukuji Library is not open to the public, and visitors can only view its appearance.
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