Shimizu Kannondo

A Kannon Hall above an Island Spring

The Shimizu Kannondo (清水観音堂) is a hall of Kannon of the early Showa period in Teshima Karato, Tonosho Town, Shozu District, Kagawa Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on October 12, 2001 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a single-storey timber hall with a tiled roof and a building area of 27 square metres; registration number 37-0058.

A Hall above the Shared Water Place

The Shimizu Kannondo is a hall of Kannon with a gabled pantile roof, set at the top of steps on the south side of the shared water place in Karato on Teshima (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It is about 4 metres square, with a porch at the front, an altar at the back and an annexe to its right.

Kagawa Prefecture describes the Karato spring at the foot of Mount Dan in the middle of Teshima as a never-failing source said to have been dug by the monk Kobo Daishi, still used for drinking water and to irrigate the fields.

Why It Was Registered

The Agency notes that, though simple, the hall tells of the bond between water and faith in this district and forms a distinctive space together with the water facilities; it was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.

What to Look For

Look at how the spring, the steps and the hall above form a single space (Agency for Cultural Affairs), and visit Shimizu Shrine just to the west as well.

Visiting

It is owned by Jurinji Temple (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Kagawa Prefecture notes a restaurant nearby that became popular during the Setouchi Triennale. No official visiting information was found.