Osu Kannon

After visiting the Atsutha Shrine, we reached Kamimaezu station and changed to Tsurumai Line. From there we catch our train to Fushimi. The Osu kannon temple is a Buddhist temple right outside of the subway station . It was about 1.30 pm when we reached there. 

Osu kannon temple

The Osu Kannon temple has a shrine of Kanzeon-bosatsu or kannon-sama and is worshipped as the Japanese goddess of mercy. Sculpted by kobo-daishi, a priest of the Heian era, the image of Kanzeon-bosatsu draws numerous visitors to its grounds. The image is eloquent with a benign smile carved on it, and is indeed an embalming sanctum for the worshippers here. A number of exquisite Buddha images line close to the main image .

Nagoya Osu Kannon had originally been built in the Gifu Prefecture, on the banks of the Kiso and Nagara River and served as a strategic point in the fortification of the main Tokugawa fort. However, a devastating flood in 1605 swept away the ancient structure, and all that remained were a few scriptures and other treasures. Tokugawa Ieyasu later housed these remains in the new temple that was constructed in 1612 in the site where it stands till date. The present building however, is a 1970 reconstruction, as the old structure had fallen prey to the ravaging flames that destroyed the main building and its adjacent pagoda in the 1820s. The reconstructed temple closely resembles the original construction and stands today to narrate a fascinating history.

The temple grounds draw a huge crowd to marvel at the colorful architecture, and the number of visitors multiplies as the temple grounds host its monthly flea markets. On the 18th and 28th of each month, the precincts of Osu Kannon are transformed into a bustling hub of shops supplying a variety of souvenirs and interesting oriental pieces. 

Osu Kannon temple

The temple looks so cute with its red color and a number of steps upto the Budha statue. There is a bell housed near to the temple. Also we saw a lot of small Budha statues at the foot of the temple steps.

The bell house.

Some small statues of Budha
at the foot of the temple.

There were a lot of shops seen near to the temple. We walked through the streets for half an hour and returned to the station.  

The shopping center near the temple.