Temples in Kagawa Prefecture (No.66 - 88)

Kagawa Prefecture is located in the west and northeast parts of Shikoku island.
It is the last prefecture of the pilgrimage.

For the pilgrim, Kagawa Prefecture is called as Nehan no Dôjô (涅槃の道場).
It means "Training school of completing enlightenment".

Kagawa Prefecture is the smallest among four prefectures in Shikoku.

The northern coast faces Seto Inland Sea, and there are many small islands.

A plain spreads in the northern part of the prefecture.
There is Takamatsu city which is the capital of the prefecture in the center of the area.

The southern part is hilly, and there are the mountains 500 to 1,000 meters high.

The pilgrim enters Kagawa Prefecture and goes to No.66 Unpenji first.

It is located at the highest place in 88 temples, and the altitude is 911 meters.
It had ever been very hard for the pilgrims to visit the temple, but the pilgrim can climb by ropeway now.

The temples from No.67 to 70 are at the foot of the mountain.
No.68 Jin'ne-in and No.69 Kannonji are in the same precinct.

From No.70 Motoyamaji, the pilgrim walks about 10 km to the north and climbs a mountain.

No.71 Iyadaniji is located on the mountainside about 200 meters above sea level.
High rocky cliff stands behind the main temple.
From the gate to the temple, the pilgrim must climb the long stone steps but car can go to near the temple by a climbing road.

There is Zentsûji city on the opposite side of the mountain.
It is the birthplace of Kuukai.

The temples from No.72 to 76 are in Zentsûji city.
Especially, No.75 Zentsûji is the central temple and is the largest temple in 88 temples.

The pilgrim walks from Zentsûji to the east.
The temples from No.77 to 79 are dotted in the area near the coast.

The pilgrim walks around the hilly area in the west part of Takamatsu city.
The temples from No.80 to 83 are dotted in this area.

The pilgrim walks through the center of Takamatsu city and goes to the east part of the city.

Two hills project to the sea, and No.84 Yashimaji and No.85 Yakuriji are on the top of the hills.

After worshipping at Yakuriji, the pilgrim walks to the southeast and reaches No.86 Shidoji.
Then, the pilgrim goes toward south and into the mountainous area.

At last, the pilgrim arrives at the last No.88 Ôkuboji in a valley.

The pilgrim worships at No.88 Ôkuboji.
The long pilgrimage is over.
In Japanese, the completion of the pilgrimage is called Kechigan (結願).

At the office of the temple, the pilgrim can get a certificate of Kechigan issued at 2,000 yen.

Many pilgrims offer own wooden stick (Kongozue) and sedge hat (Sugegasa) with which they have traveled to this temple.
Because, they are regarded as incarnation of Kuukai.

Some pilgrims walk from this temple to No.1 Ryôzanji.
The distance is about 40 km.
In a sence, it is the perfect pilgrimage that the pilgrim returns to the starting point.

After Kechigan, it is the custom to visit Koyasan to show gratitude for the completion of the pilgrimage.

Other prefectures for Shikoku 88 temples pilgrimage

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