Kinomoto Jizōin Temple and One-Eyed Frogs 木之本地蔵院と蛙

Official explanation

This temple’s location at a major crossroads testifies to its significance: it was originally the center of Kinomoto-juku. Many prominent historical figures are said to have visited the temple, including the priest Kūkai (774–835) and the founder of the Ashikaga shogunate, Ashikaga Takauji (1305–1358).

The temple’s principal object of worship is a statue of the bodhisattva Jizō. This incarnation of Jizō is believed to cure ailments of the eyes. According to temple lore, the frogs that live in the garden show compassion for suffering worshippers by offering prayers to the bodhisattva on their behalf. It is said that a frog permanently closes one of its eyes in sacrifice each time a worshipper receives Jizō’s aid. To show their thanks, temple-goers have left the countless little figures of one-eyed frogs that are piled in different areas of the temple.

Read the full explanation

Today, visitors may descend under the temple into absolute darkness and walk through a winding pitch-black corridor with only the walls for a guide. The experience is believed to be spiritually cleansing.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.