LIFE AND DEVOTION IN THE KANNON VILLAGESⅡ

Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, located at the north end of Lake Biwa is a treasure trove of Buddhist cultural properties. Notably, Kannon (Bodhisattva) statues almost equal in number to the villages are widely distributed across the city and worshipped by the villagers even now. 　With many statues dating back as far as the Heian period it has become known as "the village of Kannon," and many people from all over the country come to visit to worship them throughout the four seasons. The rich and blessed beauty of nature and culture, the warm-hearted local people and the high historical and artistic value of the Buddha statues standing there has been capturing the hearts of visitors.