Fujiidera Temple

This ancient temple gave Fujiidera City its name and is the 5th pilgrimage site of the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage. Legend holds it was founded around the 7th century as the clan temple of the Fujii family, descendants of the Baekje-lineage Wani clan. Its principal image, a Thousand-Armed Kannon, is a National Treasure genuinely possessing 1,041 arms — the only such statue known to actually exceed a thousand arms. The 18th of every month is a special viewing day (500 yen admission), considered especially auspicious. The grounds also hold the 'flag-hanging pine' (three-needle pine) associated with the warrior Kusunoki Masashige, who is said to have visited the temple to pray for victory and told his three sons, 'Like these pine needles, join your strength as three and pursue the way of the warrior' — giving rise to a legend that carrying its three-needled pine leaves brings strength.