Daishidō – Stone Buddhas of the Saigoku 33 Sacred Sites This small Daishidō (Hall of the Great Teacher) stands along the ancient Yamanobe no Michi trail in Nara Prefecture as a memorial to Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai), the founder of Shingon Buddhism. Within the grounds are stone statues representing the thirty-three temples of the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage, each dedicated to Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. Pilgrims and travellers can quietly offer prayers here, connecting with one of Japan’s oldest pilgrimage routes while honouring the enduring spiritual legacy of Kōbō Daishi.

Memory Lane: a memorial to Kōbō Daishi along the Yamanobe no Michi, in Yamacho, Nara Prefecture. #yamanobenomichi #山辺道 #naraprefecture #japan #hiking #travel #弘法大師 #空海 #shingonbuddhism #石仏 #sekibutsu