Shusseki-ji Temple

Overview

Shusseki-ji is a temple on a mountaintop in Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, holding the special head-temple rank of the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism. Prefixed with its mountain name, it is called Kinzan Shusseki-ji, and locals affectionately know it as Oizushi-san. Its principal image is the Thousand-Armed Kannon, and it welcomes many pilgrims as the seventh temple of the 20 Exceptional Temples of Shikoku.

Highlights

• ●A special head temple of Shingon Omuro on a mountaintop
• ●Kinzan Shusseki-ji, enshrining the Thousand-Armed Kannon
• ●The seventh of the 20 Exceptional Temples of Shikoku
• ●Clear mountaintop light and views praised in its pilgrim verse

History

Shusseki-ji is a special head temple of the Omuro school of Shingon Buddhism, also styled Kinzan and Komyo-in. It enshrines the Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Kannon as its principal image and is prefixed with its mountain name as Kinzan Shusseki-ji. Besides being the seventh temple of the 20 Exceptional Temples of Shikoku, it is counted among many sacred sites—an auxiliary hall of the 43rd temple of the 88 Temples of Shikoku, the 18th of the 33 Kannon temples of Shikoku, the 5th of the Iyo Ten Kannon, and more—and has drawn devotion as the Jurojin of the Nanyo Seven Lucky Gods.

Map

33.5358, 132.4656 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Drive up the mountain road from Ozu to the temple gate
2. 2Worship at the main hall before the Thousand-Armed Kannon
3. 3Receive a temple stamp as one of the 20 exceptional temples
4. 4Enjoy the mountaintop views before heading back down

Did you know?

💡 Its pilgrim's verse sings of the clear light of blessings shining over Kinzan mountain in the land of two names, evoking a scene of pure light fitting for a mountaintop temple. The mantra of the principal image is On basara tarama kiriku. Locals call it Oizushi-san with fond familiarity.

Nearby spots