Overview
Mount Goken is a 375-meter peak in the city of Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture. Linked to a legend that the monk Kūkai (Kōbō-Daishi) once trained here, it is also known as Mount Yaguri, and its ridgeline is said to resemble the face of a reclining Buddha when viewed from the Sanuki plain. It is a sacred mountain cherished for both faith and its scenery.
Highlights
- ●The distinctive form of a 375-meter sacred peak
- ●The legend of Kūkai's ascetic training
- ●A ridgeline likened to a reclining Buddha's face
- ●Views across the Sanuki plain
History
The mountain preserves a legend that Kūkai (Kōbō-Daishi) undertook ascetic training here, and from that tradition it also bears the alternate name Mount Yaguri. Seen from the Sanuki plain, its outline has long been likened to the face of a reclining Buddha, making it an object of worship.
Access
The mountain stands in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture. Rising 375 meters, it can be viewed from across the Sanuki plain, but check maps and official information for detailed routes to the summit.
Best season
Autumn to winter is recommended, when clear air sharpens the mountain's profile above the Sanuki plain, along with fine, bright daytime hours for the best views.
Map
34.3610, 134.1414 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Take in the full profile of Mount Goken from the Sanuki plain
- 2Learn the legends behind its other name, Mount Yaguri
- 3Gaze at the ridgeline shaped like a reclining Buddha
- 4Combine the visit with central Takamatsu in a day
Did you know?
💡 Seen from the Sanuki plain, the ridgeline of Mount Goken is said to look like the face of a reclining Nirvana Buddha.
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