Best Shrines And Temples In Shikoku

Torii In The Sky Is Must-See. A Scenic Shrine Becoming More & More PopularTakaya Shrine

Takaya Shrine is located at Inazumi Mountain which is over 400m above the sea level. The reason for the popularity is the world seen over the Torii in the sky! Seto Inland Sea and the townscape of Kan'onji are very moving scenery. A reward which comes after climbing up the mountain.◎Walk: 40 min from the parking lot of the foot of the mountain. The road is paved in the first half, but after that, it a mountain path. And there're steep steps at the end near the top. Car: you can access to the shrine by car from Fudo Waterfall.

The Next Strongest Spiritual Power Spot After Kotohira Main Shrine! An Inner Shrine Located As Many As 1368 Steps AboveKotohira-gu (Kompira-san)

Above the hard distance of 1368 stone steps, there's an inner place 'Izutama Shrine'. It's called a protecting god of this main Kotohira Shrine and filled with spiritual power. And, only people who reach here at last can get this original good-luck charm embroidered 'tengu' with such a power.

The Colorful And Lovely Wishing-Ball That Brings Good Relationship With OthersEnman-ji Temple

Enman-ji Temple is located on the upward of the slope behind Dogo Onsen, and famous for the colorful wishing-balls. If you hold the wishing-ball on your palm and wish good relationship with others, then it may come true. The temple has been well-known as a lovely spiritual power spot since it appeared in SNS.

A Shrine With 3000 Hydrangea Trees At The Precinct & WalkAwai Shrine

Hydrangeas coloring the slope are very impressive. A walk in the lush grove has beautiful blue hydrangeas and makes very fantastic scenery. Hydrangea Festival is held in the middle of June every year.◎30 min could be enough to see slowly around the precinct and walk. Free parking lot is available.

Rare Chance Comes Once In 60 Years! Okubo-ji Temple Is A Start Of 'Gyaku-uchi' Pilgrimage Of Shikoku 88 Sacred PlacesOkubo-ji Temple

2016 is a leap year and called 'Hinoe-saru' according to the Japanese sexagenary cycle. This year comes once in 60 years and making pilgrimage of Shikoku 88 sacred places by the counter route will give you much more divine help! To start 'Gyaku-uchi' pilgrimage, here the 88th temple, Okubo-ji is the first.

You Can Meet Cats, Too. A Scenic Shrine Of God For An Easy DeliveryToyotamahime Shrine

According to one theory, this shrine enshrined Toyotama-hime who is a grandmother of the first Japanese Emperor Kammu, and known as a god for an easy delivery of baby. The scenery from the shrine is nice and cats living in Ogi-jima Island will give you a balm.◎A small hill overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. Whenever you visit, cats are napping here. You can arrive the shrine eventually when you walk around the Ogi Island without searching for, because there're some signboards all over the community.

Wisteria Trellis With Two Colors, Purple & Pink Blooming TogetherDougaku-ji Temple

In the precinct of Dougaku-ji Temple, the wisteria trellis make many people want to come and see it every year. Though it's not so big, the two colors of purple and pink blooming together is worth seeing.

Sure to Look Great on SNS! Shrine with Colorful and Cute WindmillShirotori Shrine

Shiratori Shrine in Kagawa Prefecture. There are more than 1,000 colorful windmills on display. Now the red and white windmill is decorated with New Year's specifications. It is said that the wish is to "may things turn in a good direction with a good wind blowing".

The Grand View Of Setouchi Waiting On The Top Of Steep StepsKoseiwazuchi Shrine

Kose Iwazuchi Shrine is located on the western edge of Shodo-shima Island. After climbing up the steep steps and slopes completely, you can find the wooden torii and the wonderful view at the same time. The beautiful scenery of Setouchi can make me refreshed after a kind of exercise.◎Parking lot: for free at the foot of the steps Access: 15 min walk to the mountain top

Like Totoro's Forest. A Juniper 'Shimpaku' The Greatest In The World & A Special Natural MonumentHosho-in Temple

Shimpaku is a kind of juniper and popular for Japanese 'Bonsai'. At Hosho-in Temple, this sacred tree is said to be 1500 years old and the only Shimpaku that designated as a special natural monument. It's like a tree where Totoro and Mei met for the first time (in Ghibli movie),and very mysterious.◎Free parking lot is available. The wooden path was equipped in 2017 for protect its roots, and you can walk around the tree easier.

Scenic Spot In Kagawa: A Beautiful Torii Standing On A BeachEbisu Shrine

One of the 100 Scenic Spots In Kagawa, a torii stands on Gotanji Beach and faces to Seto Inland Sea. It's near an art work 'Pumpkin', so meny people enjoy taking pictures of this scenery.◎Access: at a beach just near a bus stop 'Tsutsuji-so'

An Artistic Shinto Shrine With Glass StepsGo'o Shrine (Naoshima Island)

Go'o Shrine has been here since Edo period, and accepted art works when the shrine was repaired. The steps to the shrine are made of glass. Arts added to a solemn shrine, you can enjoy the new style of shrine.◎Visiting the shrine is free, but the underground demands admission fee. Access: go up the steps near an art 'Kadoya'.

A Spiritual Power Spot Of Mysterious Cave Where The Air Changes In A MomentKodokutsu Cave

Kodokutsu Cave is one of the sacred places in Shodoshima Island. You enter the cave from a gate with the calm sea, then the air changes completely. It's a popular spiritual power spot that is said to have a divine grace for luck with money and improvement of sickness above neck.◎The mysterious stone, looks coming into being, has a Buddhist letter 'A' and means the start of everything.

Golden World Of 600 Year Old Gingko TreeIwabu Hachiman Shrine

A huge gingko trees of Kagawa Prefecture's natural monument whose age is estimated to be over 600 years old and the height is 33 meters. You can see the golden world of fall foliage all around the trees in autumn. There're lovely Ema ( you can write your wish on Ema and hang in the shrine) of gingko leaves.◎Best season is the first half of November. Free parking lot is available.

Gradation Of Red, Yellow And Green Fall Foliage At Joroku-ji TempleJoroku-ji Temple

Japanese maple trees at Joroku-ji Temple change their colors severally, so you can enjoy seeing beautiful gradation of red, yellow, orange and green. Fall foliage is excellent with the tile roof and the temple gate, I was really excited to take pictures.◎Best season is the end of November to the beginning of December

The Beautiful Pacific Oscan Seen From Hayataka ShrineHayataka Shrine

Climb up from Wadatsumi Shrine, there's a small shrine like a secret place. From here, you can see the superb view.

A Red Point In The Blue Sky, A Shrine Built On A CapeWadatsumi Shrine

A shrine for the maritime safe and love achievement. When you visit Katsurahama beach, stop here, too.

Wisteria Shrine Filled Up With Wisteria FlowersFujio Hachiman Shrine

Fujio Hachiman Shrine located at Fujio Mountain, is well known as a great place of wisteria. The highlight is the large wisteria trellis surrounding the parking area with purple, white and pink flowers. And you can find many other places where the wisteria blooming beautifully all over the shrine. ◎The best season starts from the end of April to the beginning of May.

Wisteria Temple In Kagawa! Wonderful Wisteria Trellis Spreading The Length Of The PrecinctMampuku-ji Temple

Mampuku-ji is famous as a wisteria temple in Kagawa Prefecture. The wisteria trellis with some kinds, white and purple, spreads the length of the precinct, which is worth seeing. I could enjoy the bright spring scenery from the bench under the roof of wisteria.◎Best season to see starts from the end of April to the beginning of May. In 2018, they're in its best on 4/22.

Kagawa's Celebrated Tree! A Large Trellis Of 'Peacock Wisteria'Iwata Shrine

Iwata Shrine is famous for its 'Peacock Wisteria (Kujaku Fuji)' as one of the celebrated trees in Kagawa. I'm surprised that this wisteria spreads from only a single trunk. And you can feel nice in the shower of beautiful wisteria flowers.◎The best season to see is from the end of April to the beginning of May.