Kokawa-dera

Kokawa-dera (粉河寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the Kokawa neighborhood of the city of Kinokawa, Wakayama Prefecture Japan. It belongs to the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism and its honzon (primary image) is an absolute hibutsu (secret/hidden) statue of Senjū Kannon Bosatsu, which has never been displayed to the public. In Japanese Buddhist temples, if the principal image is a secret image, a substitute statue called an "omaetachi" is often placed in front of the principal image's altar, but at Kokawa-dera, the "omaetachi" statue is also a secret image. The principal image is said to be buried in a container underground beneath the main hall to prevent fires. The "omaetachi" statue is only opened once a year on December 31 for cleaning by monks connected with the temple - lay people have no opportunity to view it. The temple's full name is Kazaragi-san Kokawa-dera (風猛山 粉河寺) . The temple is the 3rd stop on the 33 temple Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route.