Sugimoto-dera

Sugimoto-dera (杉本寺) is a Buddhist temple located in the city of Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The temple's full name is Taizō-zan Kannon-in Sugimoto-dera (大蔵山観音院杉本寺). It is one of the oldest temples in Kamakura and, together with Hōkai-ji, the only one of the Tendai denomination. The temple is Number one of the Bandō Sanjūsankasho pilgrimage circuit. Two of the three statues of Jūichimen Kannon Bosatsu it enshrines are Important Cultural Properties. Sugimoto-dera is nicknamed Geba Kannon ("Dismount Kannon"), because horsemen never failed to dismount from their steeds when they passed by. (According to a different version of the legend, non-believers always fall from their horse when passing in front of the temple.) The temple is a branch temple (末寺, matsuji) of Hōkai-ji.