Yes, people of all ages are welcome at the temple.
No, admission to Arako Kannon Temple is free for all visitors.
The temple can be visited year-round during its opening hours. Still, it is beautiful during the cherry blossom season in spring (late March - early April) and autumn foliage season (mid-November - early December).
While there may not be official English tours, the temple grounds and statues are self-explanatory and can be enjoyed without a guide.
This is one of the Four Kannon of Owari (Arako, Jimokuji, Kasadera, and Ryusenji), and is this year's Eho Kannon. I was able to visit before the year ended. There is also a Shinmei-sha shrine next door and Benzaiten behind it. Incidentally, next year's Eho Kannon will be Kasadera Kannon.
The large Nio statues by Enku at the mountain gate are covered with glass, so unfortunately I could only see the area around their feet. This is understandable as they are old and valuable.
The other Enku Buddha statues can only be viewed on the second Saturday of each month, so I was unable to do so.
One of the Four Kannon Temples in Nagoya.
The principal image is the Bodhisattva Kannon.
It is close to the birthplace of Maeda Toshiie and has a deep connection to him. It connects famous places nearby, including the road where Toshiie's childhood name, "Inuchiyo," was taken.
Famous for housing over 1,000 Enku Buddha statues, it is only open to the public on the second Saturday of every month from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Enter through the temple gate, where you'll find the Nio statues carved by Enku using wood donated for the construction of Nagoya Castle (the statues cannot be viewed directly as they are protected from UV rays), then remove your shoes and enter through the small gate on the left.
In the hall, pay the 500 yen admission fee and receive an explanation before viewing the Enku Buddha statues in the back. Photography and videography are not permitted.
The room is a small Buddhist altar room, and the lights are dimmed for protection. You'll be provided with a flashlight when you enter. It's quite bright, so never point it at other people.
In front of the altar room are several large, representative Enku Buddha statues arranged like a three-dimensional mandala.
Countless small objects are lined up on shelves on both sides, but what's noteworthy are the pieces of wood that were left over from the carving and were used as cushioning for the shrine. Enku Buddha statues are characterized by rough chisel carvings, and these pieces of wood clearly show the traces of that carving.
In a small room at the back, which serves as an aisle, parts of the pedestals and halos of Enku Buddha statues are on display, allowing visitors to see carvings that would normally be hidden.
From the person who gave us the explanation, it seemed like we could see how Enku carved his Nio statues.
Apparently, the "Kippu no Kai" group, which carves Enku Buddha statues here, offers a hands-on experience. Makes a great souvenir.
You can get a goshuin (temple seal) on the left side of the main hall, but if you leave it with us before your tour, an attendant will carefully write it for you.
As it's more than a 10-minute walk from the nearest station, many visitors come by car, but there is also a large parking lot where you can see the works of the "Kippu no Kai" group.
