Iwama-dera Temple (Iwamaseiho-dera Temple) – Home of the Sweating Kannon and Basho’s Mountain Retreat

【Highlights】
・The Main Hall, which welcomes pilgrims as the 12th temple of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage.
・The principal image, known as the “Sweating Kannon,” said to perspire while saving people from suffering.
・The “Boke Fuji Kannon,” beloved by those praying for health and longevity.
・Basho’s Pond, traditionally associated with a famous haiku by Matsuo Basho.

【History and Culture】
Iwama-dera Temple, officially known as Iwamaseiho-dera Temple, belongs to the Shingon-shu Daigo-ha sect. Its origins are said to date back to the Nara period, when the revered monk Taicho Daishi carved a statue of Senju Kannon, the Thousand-armed Kannon, and enshrined it as the temple’s principal image.

As the 12th temple of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, Iwama-dera has long been revered as a sacred mountain temple, welcoming countless pilgrims over the centuries.

The principal image of Senju Kannon is known as the “Sweating Kannon.” According to belief, the Kannon visits various hells every night to relieve human suffering, causing the statue to perspire over its entire body. The image is also cherished as the “Boke Fuji Kannon,” especially by those praying for health, longevity, and protection from dementia.

Beside the Main Hall lies Basho’s Pond, traditionally linked to the renowned haiku poet Matsuo Basho and his famous poem about an old pond and a frog. Surrounded by quiet mountain forest, Iwama-dera offers visitors a peaceful place to encounter Kannon faith, pilgrimage tradition, and the literary legacy of haiku.

【Main Events】
・May and October: Boke Fuji Prayer Ceremony and Boke Fuji Horoku Kyu, a special moxibustion ritual for preventing dementia