Kawasaki Daishi Hiraidera

This is the head temple of the Shingon Risshu sect, located in Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Its formal name is Kongosan Kinjo-in Hiraidera. The principal enshrined deity is a statue of Kobo Daishi Kukai, known as the 'Yonoyoke Kobo Daishi' (Disaster-Averting Kobo Daishi). According to tradition, the temple's origin dates back to 1128 CE (Oji 3), when Hirama Kanenori, at the age of 42 during his unlucky year, followed a dream revelation to retrieve a statue of Kobo Daishi from the sea. After enshrining and making offerings to the statue, his misfortunes were averted. He subsequently established the temple together with the respected monk Sonken from Koyasan. The temple has garnered nationwide faith due to the deep reverence of the Imperial Family and the visit of the 11th Shogun, Tokugawa Ienari. Along with Naritasan Shinshoji and Takao-san Yakuo-in, it is one of the head temples of the Shingon Risshu sect and is counted among the 'Three Great Masters of Disaster Aversion in Kanto.' It boasts one of the largest numbers of Hatsumode (first shrine visit of the New Year) worshippers in the country.