The henro trail up to No.20 Kakurin-ji is just uphill all the way and it’s also pretty steep. Although the map said it should not be too long, it’s indeed tough.

I’m feeling accumulated fatigues when I arrive at this Mizunomi-Taishi, which is still half way to No.20 Kakurin-ji, oh…

All the sudden, this beautiful panoramic view spread out to me. But then I realized from the board, that I should go down the mountain, and then climb up again, after this tough trail up to No.20 Kakurin-ji… phew.

The main gate of No.20 Kakurin-ji stands in the solemn quite atmosphere. It’s still early in the morning, and there’s no one around. The efforts to climb up here really deserve 🙂

I found it interesting that the crane sculpture is gazing at Nio-statue in the main gate. The name of No.20 Kakurin-ji (鶴林寺) includes the word “鶴 – a crane”, so after seeing it, I could imagine that cranes would be connected to the origin of this sacred temple.

It is said that while training in this mountain, Kobo-Daishi found a pair of cranes protect a small golden “Ojizo-san (お地蔵さん)”. He was pleased so much about it, and then carved a Jizo-bosatsu statue (地蔵菩薩像) about 90 cm height, and put the small golden “Ojizo-san” inside. It is said that No.20 Kakurin-ji is dedicated to this Jizo-bosatsu.

I noticed that there’s no votive card with my name on it, so I prepare some at the Nokyo-jyo (納経所) after getting the temple stamp. While doing so, I spoke to the old lady in charge, and she told me a bit about some topics related to 1200-year anniversary of Henro route founding by Kobo-Daishi, which was last year.