Nakayama-dera

Nakayama-dera (中山寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the Nakayamadera neighborhood of Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture Japan. It belongs to the Nakayama-branch of the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism and its honzon is a statue of Jūichimen Kannon. The temple's full name is Shiun-san Nakayama-dera (紫雲山 中山寺). The temple is the 24th stop on the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage route. The hibutsu principal image said to have come from the Three Kingdoms of Korea and was modeled after the Indian Queen Shoumanbunin (the wife of King Pasenadi of Kosala The two attendant statues on either side are also Jūichimen Kannon, making the total number of faces of the principal image and attendant statues thirty-three. Worshipping this statue is said to grant the same merit as completing the pilgrimage to the Thirty-Three Temples. The temple is also famous for praying for safe childbirth. The temple is also known as a famous plum blossom viewing spot..