Kinreizan Souzen-ji Temple

There are records indicating that Sogenji Temple on Kinreizan Mountain was founded around 1500. The principal image is Amida Nyorai.
Until the early Meiji period, it administered the adjacent Hachiman Shrine, and was affectionately known by local residents as “Miyadera” (palace temple).
Within the temple grounds is a sheath storehouse that houses a festival float, which is used in the Otani Okujo district.
The temple enshrines three statues of Kobo Daishi.
The central statue is said to depict Kobo Daishi at the age of 38, holding a sacred sword and using the secret power of homa rituals to dispel the great serpents and evil spirits that dwell in the deep mountains and lakes of the jungle. It is revered as the “All-Protecting Daishi” and attracts many worshippers.
The temple is also known for its “car offering.” In 1923, a man who was traveling around the country in a wooden cart pulled by two dogs in hopes of recovering from an illness visited the temple after receiving a divine message in a dream. His body was healed, and he offered the cart to the temple. The cart is still preserved in the Kobo-do Hall.
In the separate hall to the left of the mountain gate, Fudō Myōō and Konpira Daikōmyō are enshrined, and prayers are offered for abundant fishing and prosperous business.
Additionally, in the Kōshin Hall at the front, Kōshin-sama, Tenjin-sama (the god of learning), and En no Gyōja-sama are enshrined. The Smiling Boy, embodying the Zen phrase “Wagen Aigo” (a gentle face and kind words), is a popular figure among visitors with his smile.
Furthermore, lotus flowers blooming from June to July, along with other seasonal flowers that bloom beautifully with the changing seasons, await your visit.