Tokushima

Hōrin-ji is Temple No. 9 on the Shikoku pilgrimage, or Henro. It stands among fields on the plain at the bottom of the Tokushima rift valley. What to see The temple resembles a fortified compound, being surrounded by a high wall over which mature trees extend their branches. The main gate is a small, elegant…

Kumadani-ji is temple No. 8 on the Shikoku pilgrimage, or Henro. It stands in a valley of the Sanuki Mountains in the Tokushima rift valley. What to see The Niō Gate is the biggest of all the 88 temples. The towering gate stands alone in fields on a narrow road, separate from the main compound…

Jūraku-ji is temple No. 7 on the Shikoku pilgrimage, or Henro. It stands at the foot of the Sanuki Mountains in the Tokushima rift valley. What to see The most conspicuous feature of Jūraku-ji is its two Ryūgū gates. One of these Chinese-style gates is painted vermillion and the other is plain wood. They’re offset…

Unpen-ji is Temple No. 66 on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, or Henro. Although counted as being in Kagawa Prefecture, it’s actually just across the prefectural border in Tokushima. Located at an elevation of 911 metres, this is the highest temple on the pilgrimage, and it’s one the nansho, ‘difficult places’ that test the will of pilgrims….

Anraku-ji is temple No. 6 on the Shikoku pilgrimage, or Henro. It stands in a little village in the Yoshino River valley. What to see The main gate is in the Ming Chinese style. There are dramatic temple guardians on either side. In the old days, pilgrims who didn’t stay in the temple lodging would…

Jizō-ji is temple No. 5 on the Shikoku pilgrimage, or Henro. It stands in an old residential area at the border of the Tokushima rift valley and the foothills of the Sanuki Mountains. It’s almost directly south of Temple 4, Dainichi-ji. Jizō-ji is a large and beautiful temple that repays a lengthy stop. What to…

Dainichi-ji is temple No. 4 on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, or Henro. It’s tucked in a valley off the Tokushima rift valley, just outside the city of Tokushima. Temples No. 13 and No. 28 are also called Dainichi-ji. What to see A large stone engraved with the name of the temple stands at the entrance in…

Konsen-ji is temple No. 3 on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, or Henro. It stands in a residential area at the foot of the Sanuki Mountains. What to see From the approach, little can be seen of the temple apart from an imposing red and white two-storey gate, with dark grey and gold guardians. Beyond the gate…