Horses Which Made The Ultimate Sacrifice

The road going from Keikyu Shioiri Station and climbing-up a slope to Sakamoto-Cho (used by many who drive towards Hayama), was originally built in the 19th Century to enable the transport of weapons and supplies for a Japanese Imperial Army Heavy Artillery Regiment to the heights overlooking Yokosuka Harbor.

In those days, transportation of large cargo was done by horse-drawn wagons.  And, due to the steep slope of the Sakamoto Road, accidents would occur where the horses were injured and/or killed.

Therefore, Japanese people involved in the transportation business erected Buddhist stone-tablet memorials to commemorate the souls of the poor dead horses.  "Hayagriva" -- also called "Bato Kannon" -- was invoked, as it was the guardian deity of horses.  ( Note:  Bato = 馬頭 = Horse Head. )

If you walk from Keikyu Shioiri Station, head up the Sakamoto hill road, and stay on the left hand side, you will come across the Bato Kannon memorials, which are nested in small cave built into the containing wall which runs along the road.

Here are a couple of pictures...