Overview
Hosho-in is a temple of the Koyasan Shingon school located at 412 Kamisho, Tonoshō, Shōzu District, Kagawa Prefecture, bearing the mountain name Kōtōzan. Its principal image is Jizō Bosatsu, and it is known as the 54th sacred site on the Shōdoshima pilgrimage.
Highlights
- ●The nationally designated Special Natural Monument, the Shinpaku of Hosho-in
- ●The main hall enshrining the principal image, Jizō Bosatsu
- ●Its status as the 54th sacred site of the Shōdoshima pilgrimage
- ●A Koyasan Shingon temple carrying the mountain name Kōtōzan
History
As a temple within the Koyasan Shingon lineage, Hosho-in has enshrined Jizō Bosatsu as its principal image and welcomed pilgrims as one of the eighty-eight sacred sites of the Shōdoshima pilgrimage. Within its grounds stands the "Shinpaku of Hosho-in," designated a national Special Natural Monument, a tree that has stood watch over the temple's history for a very long time.
Access
Located at 412 Kamisho, Tonoshō, in Shōzu District, the temple sits on Shōdoshima island, so visitors from outside the island need to cross by ferry before continuing by local transport. As part of the Shōdoshima pilgrimage route, it is often visited together with other sacred sites on the circuit.
Best season
As a pilgrimage site, Hosho-in receives visitors throughout the year. For those hoping to see the nationally designated Shinpaku tree, comparing the changing greenery of the grounds across the seasons can make for a rewarding visit at any time of year.
Map
34.4934, 134.1965 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Cross to Shōdoshima by ferry and head to Hosho-in in Kamisho, Tonoshō
- 2Pay respects to Jizō Bosatsu in the main hall
- 3Take time to view the Special Natural Monument Shinpaku tree
- 4Continue the pilgrimage to other sacred sites on Shōdoshima
Did you know?
💡 The "Shinpaku of Hosho-in" standing in the temple grounds is designated a national Special Natural Monument; shinpaku is a type of conifer. The Special Natural Monument category is reserved for the most significant of Japan's designated natural monuments, underscoring just how valuable this tree is considered to be.
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