Ikō-ji Temple

Overview

Ikō-ji is a Buddhist temple in the Somebachō neighbourhood of Masuda, Shimane Prefecture. Belonging to the Tōfuku-ji branch of the Rinzai school, its full name is Ryūzō-san Ikō-ji, and it enshrines Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of healing, as its principal image. Set within the calm townscape of the Iwami region, it is known as an old temple where the quiet of Zen can be felt.

Highlights

• ●A Zen temple of the Tōfuku-ji branch of Rinzai
• ●The formal name bearing the mountain name Ryūzō-san
• ●Yakushi Nyorai, the healing Buddha, as principal image
• ●A calm setting in Masuda in the Iwami region

History

Ikō-ji belongs to the Tōfuku-ji branch of the Rinzai Zen school and bears the mountain name Ryūzō-san. Its principal image, Yakushi Nyorai, has long drawn devotion as a Buddha who heals illness. As a temple carrying on the teachings of Zen, it has kept its dharma light burning in Masuda for generations.

Map

34.6800, 131.8657 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Head from central Masuda to Ikō-ji in Somebachō
2. 2Pass through the gate and walk the quiet precincts
3. 3Offer a prayer before the principal image, Yakushi Nyorai
4. 4Explore the Iwami town along with nearby temples and shrines

Did you know?

💡 The formal name Ryūzō-san Ikō-ji and the enshrinement of Yakushi Nyorai as the principal image reflect both the temple's heritage and the form its devotion takes.

Nearby spots