🗺️ Bato Kannon馬頭観音

Mato Kannon is one of the incarnations of Kannon Bodhisattva. The image of a horse's head atop a figure with an angry expression is quite striking. As the Kannon Bodhisattva who protects the safety and health of horses and ensures safe journeys, Mato Kannon is revered, and people often offer carrots as offerings. To the right of Mato Kannon is the Horse Spirit Pagoda, dedicated to the spirits of deceased racehorses. Many tombstones commemorating famous horses stand beside the Horse Spirit Pagoda. During horse racing events, red and white flags are respectively offered in the stables on either side of Mato Kannon. The sight of the flags fluttering in the wind is also very eye-catching.

Regarded as the guardian deity of horses. Adjacent to the horse racing memorial tower (馬靈塔), there are many tombstones commemorating famous racehorses built beside the spirit tower. During the horse racing events, red and white flags are offered on both sides of the Horse Head Kannon (馬頭観音).