Minobu town 

Mokujikishonin was born in Marubatake in 1718. He converted to Buddhism when he was 22 years old, and received Mokujikikai at Rakanji (Rakan temple) in Tokiwa at the age of 45. Mokujikikai is a type of training that does not allow the consumption of grains, fish, boiled food and salt. He kept to the rules of this training for his entire life. He went on a pilgrimage throughout Japan until he was 93, and carved more than 1000 Buddist images during this time. The Hohoemikan was built atop of a mountain located close to the house where he was born.