Bando Pilgrimage
Bando 33 Kannon
Pilgrimage Guide
A historic pilgrimage route spanning approx. 1,300 km across the Kanto region, inspired by Minamoto no Yoritomo's devotion to Kannon
📋 Contents
About the Bando Pilgrimage
The Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage is a sacred route visiting 33 Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) temples spread across the Kanto region, spanning seven prefectures: Kanagawa, Saitama, Tokyo, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Chiba. The total distance covers approximately 1,300 km.
The pilgrimage was established in the early Kamakura period, inspired by Minamoto no Yoritomo's deep devotion to Kannon. Modeled after the Saigoku 33 Temples pilgrimage in western Japan, it brought the tradition of Kannon worship to the Kanto region. Together with the Chichibu 34 Temples, these three pilgrimages form the "100 Kannon of Japan."
The route takes pilgrims through famous temples in Kamakura, Nikko, Tsukuba, Boso, and beyond. The course is remarkably diverse, ranging from urban temples to remote mountain sanctuaries.
All 33 Temples
| # | Temple Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | 杉本寺 |
| 2 | 岩殿寺 |
| 3 | 安養院 田代寺 |
| 4 | 長谷寺 |
| 5 | 勝福寺（飯泉観音） |
| 6 | 長谷寺（飯山観音） |
| 7 | 光明寺（金目観音） |
| 8 | 星谷寺（星の谷観音） |
| 9 | 慈光寺 |
| 10 | 正法寺（岩殿観音） |
| 11 | 安楽寺（吉見観音） |
| 12 | 慈恩寺 |
| 13 | 浅草寺 |
| 14 | 弘明寺 |
| 15 | 長谷寺（白岩観音） |
| 16 | 水澤寺（水澤観音） |
| 17 | 満願寺（出流観音） |
| 18 | 中禅寺（立木観音） |
| 19 | 大谷寺（大谷観音） |
| 20 | 西明寺 |
| 21 | 日輪寺 |
| 22 | 佐竹寺（北向観音） |
| 23 | 正福寺（佐白観音） |
| 24 | 楽法寺（雨引観音） |
| 25 | 大御堂（筑波山大御堂） |
| 26 | 清瀧寺 |
| 27 | 圓福寺（飯沼観音） |
| 28 | 龍正院（滑河観音） |
| 29 | 千葉寺 |
| 30 | 高蔵寺（高倉観音） |
| 31 | 笠森寺（笠森観音） |
| 32 | 清水寺（清水観音） |
| 33 | 那古寺（那古観音） |
Guide by Prefecture
Tokyo
1 templesHow to Travel & Duration
By Car
Duration: 5-10 days | Cost: 100,000-200,000 yen
The most efficient way to visit temples scattered across the Kanto region. Using expressways, aim for 3-5 temples per day. Most temples have parking available.
Train & Bus
Duration: 10-20 days | Cost: 100,000-150,000 yen
Temples in urban areas are easily accessible, but mountain temples and those in the Boso area of Chiba have limited bus services and require more time.
Walking Pilgrimage
Duration: 40-60 days | Cost: 300,000-500,000 yen
Walk the full 1,300 km route. The Kanto Plain offers mostly flat terrain, but mountain areas around Nikko and Boso require good fitness. Securing accommodation can be challenging.
History & Origins
Early Kamakura Period (13th century)
Born from Yoritomo's devotion to Kannon
Minamoto no Yoritomo, founder of the Kamakura shogunate, sought to establish a Kannon pilgrimage in the Kanto region, modeled after the Saigoku 33 Temples in western Japan. Starting from Kamakura, sacred Kannon temples were selected across the entire Kanto area. The current 33 temples are believed to have been finalized during the era of Shogun Sanetomo.
Muromachi to Sengoku Period
Spread among warriors and commoners
Kanto warriors made pilgrimages to pray for victory in battle and for their ancestors' souls. The practice gradually spread to ordinary people, and each temple became a center of local faith.
Edo Period
The golden age of pilgrimage
As road networks improved, pilgrimage flourished. The concept of the '100 Kannon of Japan' combining Saigoku, Bando, and Chichibu was established. Sacred hymns (go-eika) were composed, completing the pilgrimage tradition as it is known today.
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