Plenty of people obviously find this jewel of a temple worth going out of their way for!
This gem of a temple is home to one of the more unusual Buddhist saints – the Shibarare (pronounced she-bah-rah-ray) Jizo. Legend has it that this saint has a gift for getting people out of tight spots, and the reason people tie a rope around it when asking for its help is a great story. (If you’re curious, you can read about it here, or watch a rakugo performance of the story in English!)
To ask for the Shibarare Jizo’s help, toss a hundred yen coin in the box by the ropes and take one.
Step up and tie your rope securely around the stone figure…
…then step back behind the offering box, toss another coin, and ask the Shibarare Jizo to grant your wish
When your wish comes true, return to the temple, make another offering to thank the Shibarare Jizo, untie one of the ropes and leave it in this bucket. Looks like he’s been busy lately!
The grounds of Nanzo-in aren’t extensive, but they’re beautifully landscaped with carefully pruned trees and cheerful animal statues set amid the greenery
If you’d like to ask the Jizo-san for another favor, buy one of these adorable ema prayer plaques and write your wish on the back before hanging it on the rack
It’s easy to spot this temple from the street, through its magnificent gate
Jonelle Patrick writes about Japan 