Kin Kannon-do temple

On the outside, this temple seems mundane, but enter the steep entrance of the cave on the right and leave the heat and mosqitoes on top for the cool comfort of the Kin Shonyudo limestone cave and discover a history so typically Okinawan. { Japan-China, typhoons, habu, awamori... }

The Kin Kannon-do temple has been on my infamous list of Okinawan sites to see before I leave. It is one of eight famous temples in Okinawa and is operated by the Buddhist Shingon sect. It is a Karst cave near Camp Hansen.

In 1552, the Buddhist priest Nisshu, a native of Wakayama Prefecture, was washed ashore when a typhoon hit his ship near Kin Bay on his way to Japan from China after practicing Buddhism in China. He was rescued by Kin villagers. During his stay in Kin Village, he heard the story of large snakes, habu, that lived in a stalactite cave and often ate domestic animals. He thanked the villagers for saving him and prayed to god to kill the snakes for the villagers, which eventually happened. He also made three statues of Buddha, Yakushi (The God of Medicine), and Kannon (The God of Mercy). and set them in front of the cave.

Later, the Shingon sect built a temple near this cave. The temple is made of wood and has an attractive design. The temple contributes to the spiritual livelihood of the northern communities as a place to hold marriage ceremonies and funeral services.

The cave is 300 meters in length and is well known as a storage room for local Awamori (an Okinawan liquor). Awamori distilling in Kin was first launched in 1949. This Kin Tatsu (dragon) brand liquor is stored for five or twelve years inside Kin Shonyudo, a natural limestone cave on the premises of Kin Kannon Temple. Bottles filled with 1.8 liters 43% proof liquor is stored for 5 and 12 years and aged at the ideal temperature of 17 to 19°C. With an average temperature of 17-19 degrees, this is the perfect environment to store and age the liquor.