Nagoya, Japan Jizodo Visit Report 2026 Atsuta No.5 Jizo Who Takes the Place of Another
Migawari Jizo-son: A Giant Jizo at the First Pilgrimage Site in Ichiban-cho, Nagoya
On June 30, 2026, I visited and prayed at Migawari Jizo-son and Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall in Ichiban-cho, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya, Japan.
This place was originally a sacred site known as the First Pilgrimage Site of the Atsuta Shinden Bangwari Kannon tradition. Today, the giant Migawari Jizo-son standing along National Route 1 makes the strongest impression, but the site has several layers of history: the development of Atsuta Shinden, the Bangwari Kannon pilgrimage system, the First Pilgrimage Site, and later prayers for traffic safety and protection from misfortune.
At the site, I confirmed the stone pillar for the First Pilgrimage Site, a stone monument from around 1912–1926, the Kannon hall, a stone water basin carved with the characters for “pure water,” offering banners, the 1980 explanatory board about the founding of Migawari Jizo-son, and the present giant Jizo statue.
The explanatory board dated 1980 says that the founder had been involved in four traffic accidents over a period of 70 years, but none became serious. The founder understood this as the protection of Jizo and established Migawari Jizo-son. The board also says that one thousand copies of the Heart Sutra were placed inside the body of the statue.
The giant Jizo statue visible today is not the first-generation statue. A stone marker at the site states that the present statue was built in April 2007. The material appears to be concrete, not the natural stone or granite handled by Japanstones.shop. This article does not go further into that material point. Instead, it records the original First Pilgrimage Site, the 1980 origin of the first Jizo statue, the present second-generation statue built in 2007, and the stone objects remaining in the precinct.
Photo Record of Migawari Jizo-son and Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall
Urban surroundings along National Route 1
Migawari Jizo-son and Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall stand in an urban area along National Route 1. Because this is a busy road, the site is closely connected with prayers for traffic safety.
Entrance to Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall
This is the entrance to Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall as seen from the road. Stone pillars, walls, gateposts, and offering banners line the entrance, with the path leading inward toward the Kannon hall. The giant Migawari Jizo-son stands within this First Pilgrimage Site.
Front view of Migawari Jizo-son and the large tree
This is a front view of Migawari Jizo-son. The large Jizo stands with hands joined in prayer on a lotus pedestal, with a small worship space in front. Even in a dense urban area along a major road, the statue has a strong presence.
Side view of Migawari Jizo-son
From the side, the joined hands, flowing robe, and lotus pedestal can be seen clearly. Although the statue stands in a narrow urban precinct, its size is very large compared with the nearby buildings and trees.
Stone marker showing the April 2007 construction date
A stone marker in front of the statue shows that the present giant Migawari Jizo-son was built in April 2007. This confirms that the current statue is the second-generation statue, built after the first Jizo described in the 1980 origin board.
Stone monument marking the Kannon hall grounds
A stone monument in the precinct is carved with the words meaning “Kannon Hall grounds.” It is an important stone object showing that this place has been preserved as a Kannon worship space, not only as the site of the giant Jizo.
Offering banners in the precinct
Many offering banners for Migawari Jizo-son stand inside the precinct. They show that the faith connected with this Jizo is still maintained by local people today.
1980 origin board for Migawari Jizo-son
The precinct includes an explanatory board dated 1980, titled “The Origin of the Establishment of Migawari Jizo-son.” It says that the founder had been involved in four traffic accidents over 70 years but was never seriously harmed, and understood this as the protection of Jizo. It also says that one thousand copies of the Heart Sutra were placed inside the body of the first-generation Jizo statue.
Stone water basin carved with “pure water”
A stone water basin remains in the precinct. The front is carved with characters meaning “pure water,” and it remains near the entrance area as a stone object connected with purification before prayer.
Stone pillar for Migawari Jizo-son
A stone pillar carved with the name “Migawari Jizo-son” stands in the precinct. The prayer for traffic safety and protection from misfortune remains visible here as carved stone lettering.
Stone pillar for the First Pilgrimage Site
Near the entrance, a stone pillar is carved with the words “First Pilgrimage Site.” Reference sources introduce this place as the First Pilgrimage Site or Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall. The stone pillar shows that this location belongs to the first site of the Atsuta Shinden Bangwari Kannon tradition.
Full view of Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall precinct
This photo shows the full precinct. The giant Migawari Jizo-son stands on the left, the Kannon hall is visible at the rear, and offering banners line the right side. The older First Pilgrimage Site and the later Migawari Jizo faith overlap in the same small precinct.
Rear view of Migawari Jizo-son
This rear view was taken from the parking area of the neighboring building. Compared with the bicycles in front, the size of the present giant Jizo statue is very clear.
About Migawari Jizo-son and Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall
| Name | Migawari Jizo-son / Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall / Ichibanwari Kannon |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-24-14 Ichiban, Atsuta Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan |
| Position | The First Pilgrimage Site of the Atsuta Shinden Bangwari Kannon tradition. Reference sources also introduce it as the First Pilgrimage Site and Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall. |
| Background of the Kannon hall | A sacred space connected with the development of Atsuta Shinden and the Bangwari Kannon tradition. Atsuta Shinden was divided into 33 numbered sections, and each section had a Kannon hall related to the Saigoku Thirty-Three Kannon pilgrimage. |
| Main image of the Kannon hall | Reference sources identify the main image as Nyoirin Kannon, a form of Kannon Bodhisattva. |
| Faith of Migawari Jizo-son | Prayers for traffic safety, good health, and protection from misfortune. The 1980 on-site board says the founder believed Jizo had protected him from serious harm despite traffic accidents. |
| Present giant Jizo | Confirmed on site as the second-generation statue built in April 2007. The material appears to be concrete, not the natural stone or granite handled by Japanstones.shop. |
| Heart Sutra inside the statue | The 1980 on-site board says that one thousand copies of the Heart Sutra were placed inside the body of the first-generation Jizo statue. |
| Main stone elements | Stone pillar for the First Pilgrimage Site, stone monument from around 1912–1926, stone monument for the Kannon hall grounds, stone water basin carved with “pure water,” stone pillar for Migawari Jizo-son, and stone flower stands |
| Recording policy | This article does not treat the giant Jizo alone. It records the original First Pilgrimage Site, the Kannon hall, local faith, prayers for traffic safety, and the layers of stone objects remaining in the precinct. |
Originally the First Pilgrimage Site of Atsuta Shinden Bangwari Kannon
The place where Migawari Jizo-son stands was originally the First Pilgrimage Site of the Atsuta Shinden Bangwari Kannon tradition.
Atsuta Shinden was a newly developed land area from the 17th century onward. It was divided into 33 numbered sections, and each section had a Kannon hall related to the Saigoku Thirty-Three Kannon pilgrimage. Today, the first through ninth Bangwari Kannon sites still remain within Atsuta Ward.
Near the entrance, I confirmed a stone pillar carved with the words “First Pilgrimage Site.” Reference sources introduce this place as the First Pilgrimage Site or Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall. This shows that the site had continued as a pilgrimage and worship space long before the giant Migawari Jizo statue was added.
The Origin of Migawari Jizo-son
The 1980 on-site board titled “The Origin of the Establishment of Migawari Jizo-son” records an important story about the first-generation Jizo statue.
According to the board, the founder had been involved in four traffic accidents over 70 years but was never seriously harmed. He understood this as the protection of Jizo and established Migawari Jizo-son with prayers for traffic safety and good health.
The board also says that one thousand copies of the Heart Sutra were placed inside the body of the first-generation Jizo statue. This makes the statue more than a large visible image. It was also a vessel holding written prayers inside.
The Present Giant Jizo Is the Second Generation, Built in 2007
The origin of Migawari Jizo-son and the present statue should be understood separately.
The 1980 on-site board records the story of the first-generation Migawari Jizo-son. In contrast, a stone marker in front of the present giant statue states that it was built in April 2007.
For this reason, this article records the 1980 origin as the establishment of the first-generation Jizo, and the present giant Migawari Jizo-son as the second-generation statue built in April 2007.
The present giant Migawari Jizo-son appears to be made of concrete, not the natural stone or granite handled by Japanstones.shop. This article does not go further into that material point. It focuses on the history of the First Pilgrimage Site, the traffic-safety faith, and the stone objects remaining in the precinct.
Stone Objects and Sacred Space Remaining in the City
The precinct of Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall preserves not only the giant Migawari Jizo-son, but also the stone pillar for the First Pilgrimage Site, a stone monument from around 1912–1926, the Kannon hall grounds stone monument, a stone water basin, stone flower stands, and offering banners.
Although the site stands along busy National Route 1, a large tree spreads its branches inside the precinct, and the Kannon hall remains quietly at the rear. Road traffic, prayers for safety, Jizo faith, the Kannon hall, and the memory of the Bangwari Kannon tradition all overlap in one small place.
Japanstones.shop connects Japanese stone craftsmanship with gardens, landscapes, and cultural spaces around the world. Places like Migawari Jizo-son show that Japanese stone culture is not found only in large temples and famous gardens. It also remains in small local pilgrimage sites that support everyday prayers for safety.
Historical Timeline
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| After 1647 | The development of Atsuta Shinden began. Later, the land was divided into 33 numbered sections, each associated with a Kannon hall related to the Saigoku Thirty-Three Kannon pilgrimage. |
| 1603–1868 | A Kannon hall was established in the first numbered section, and the area developed as the First Pilgrimage Site for local worship. |
| Around 1912–1926 | A stone monument near the entrance to the Jizo hall was established. It remains an important older stone object confirmed on site. |
| 1980 | According to the 1980 on-site board, the founder had been involved in four traffic accidents over 70 years but was never seriously harmed. He understood this as the protection of Jizo and established the first-generation Migawari Jizo-son. |
| April 2007 | The present giant Migawari Jizo-son was built. A stone marker at the site confirms this date, making the current statue the second-generation statue. |
| Present | The precinct of Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall preserves the giant Migawari Jizo-son, the stone pillar for the First Pilgrimage Site, a stone monument from around 1912–1926, a stone water basin carved with “pure water,” the Kannon hall, and offering banners. |
| June 30, 2026 | I visited the site and confirmed Migawari Jizo-son, Ichiban-cho Kannon Hall, the stone pillar for the First Pilgrimage Site, the stone monument from around 1912–1926, the 1980 origin board, the water basin, and the offering banners. |
A Giant Migawari Jizo Standing on the First Pilgrimage Site
Migawari Jizo-son is a large Jizo statue standing along National Route 1 in Ichiban-cho, Atsuta Ward. However, if this place is described only as the site of a giant Jizo, its deeper meaning is easy to miss.
This was originally the First Pilgrimage Site of the Atsuta Shinden Bangwari Kannon tradition. Later, Migawari Jizo-son was added as a focus of prayers for traffic safety and good health. In April 2007, the present giant second-generation Jizo statue was built.
The First Pilgrimage Site, the stone monument from around 1912–1926, the 1980 origin of the first-generation Jizo, the one thousand copies of the Heart Sutra placed inside its body, the second-generation statue built in April 2007, and the stone objects remaining in the precinct all overlap here. Migawari Jizo-son is an important record of local faith, urban traffic-safety prayer, and stone culture connected with the history of Atsuta Shinden.
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Recorded on June 30, 2026
Written on June 30, 2026