Procedure in the temple | List of 88 temples
The Procedure in the temple
The following procedure is followed by many pilgrims in this or a similar form. However, everyone is free to adopt only parts of it for themselves or not to follow this procedure at all. Especially at the beginning of a pilgrimage, the temple routine is still unfamiliar and requires a period of acclimatisation.
At the temple gate (niōmon or sanmon)
Standing on the left in front of the temple gate, bring your palms together in front of your chest and bow once (gasshō) toward the main hall. You enter the temple complex by crossing the threshold at the temple gate. Thereby passing from the secular to the spiritual world. Most temple gates are guarded on the left and right by two niō, muscular and often fearsome guardian figures who protect the temple from evil. Such temple gates are called niōmon. Temple gates without the two guardians are called sanmon.
At the water well (temizuya)
The water well is located in the entrance area of the temple compound. Use one of the ladles provided to draw water. Pour some water over your right palm first, then take the ladle in your right hand and pour some water on your left palm. Rinse your mouth with the water from your left hand. It is sufficient if you only touch your lips with the water. Both symbolise the outer and inner purification.
Finally, hold the wooden handle of the ladle down and let the water remaining in the ladle run down over the handle. This leaves the ladle clean and ready for use by the next temple visitor.
Usually a place to put the pilgrim’s staff down for the duration of the temple visit can be found near the water well. The backpack is placed in the rest area of the temple during the temple visit.
At the bell tower (shōrō)
At the bell tower you ring the bell once to announce your visit to the temple. This is done by the massive beam, or tree trunk, which is set in motion by a rope. When you leave the temple, the bell is not rung again. This would bring bad luck.
At some temples located within towns and villages, ringing the bell is not possible or only possible at certain times.
At the main hall (hondō)
Proceed to the main hall. Light a candle and three incense sticks, one each for the past, present, and future.
There is a small bell attached to a rope at the main hall. Ring the bell once to signal your arrival to the temple deity. Place your name card / visit card (osamefuda) in the box provided to the right or left of the temple door. Put a small amount of money in the wooden donation box in front of the main hall.
Then place your hands together in gasshō, recite the Heart Sutra, and chant the appropriate mantras, for the Buddhist deity worshipped at that particular temple.
At the Daishi-hall (daishidō)
Go to Daishi Hall and repeat the procedure as you did at the main hall. The only difference is the texts you recite. Here you address Kobo-Daishi, who is honored at the Daishi Hall.
At the temple office (nōkyōsho)
Finally, you go to the temple office to get the stamp for your stamp book (nōkyōchō) and a paper picture depicting the deity worshipped in the main hall.
The temple offices are open continuously from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. Only at Temple 62 is closed during the lunch break between 12:00 and 13:00.
If you arrive at the temple just before 17.00, get the stamp for your book first and then visit the two halls.
Stamping your stamp book is also mandatory, of course.
At the temple gate (niōmon oder sanmon)
After passing the temple gate on your way out, turn around again and bow towards the main hall.
List of 88 temples
No. | Temple | Buddhism (School)3 | Honzon (main image) | City | Prefecture |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ryōzenji (霊山寺) | Shingon | Shaka Nyorai | Naruto (鳴門市) | Tokushima |
2 | Gokurakuji (極楽寺) | Shingon | Amida Nyorai | Naruto (鳴門市) | Tokushima |
3 | Konsenji (金泉寺) | Shingon | Shaka Nyorai | Itano (板野町) | Tokushima |
4 | Dainichiji (大日寺) | Shingon | Dainichi Nyorai | Itano (板野町) | Tokushima |
5 | Jizōji (地蔵寺) | Shingon | Enmei Jizō Bosatsu | Itano (板野町) | Tokushima |
6 | Anrakuji (安楽寺)1 | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Kamiita (上板町) | Tokushima |
7 | Jūrakuji (十楽寺)1 | Shingon | Amida Nyorai | Awa (阿波市) | Tokushima |
8 | Kumadaniji (熊谷寺) | Shingon | Senju Kannon | Awa (阿波市) | Tokushima |
9 | Hōrinji (法輪寺) | Shingon | Shaka Nyorai | Awa (阿波市) | Tokushima |
10 | Kirihataji (切幡寺) | Shingon | Senju Kannon | Awa (阿波市) | Tokushima |
11 | Fujiidera (藤井寺) | Zen (Rinzai) | Yakushi Nyorai | Yoshinogawa (吉野川市) | Tokushima |
12 | Shōzanji (焼山寺) | Shingon | Kokūzō Bosatsu | Kamiyama (神山町) | Tokushima |
13 | Dainichiji (大日寺) | Shingon | Jūichimen Kannon | Tokushima (徳島市) | Tokushima |
14 | Jōrakuji (常楽寺) | Shingon | Miroku Bosatsu | Tokushima (徳島市) | Tokushima |
15 | Kokubunji (国分寺) | Zen (Sōtō) | Yakushi Nyorai | Tokushima (徳島市) | Tokushima |
16 | Kanonji (観音寺) | Shingon | Senju Kannon | Tokushima (徳島市) | Tokushima |
17 | Idoji (井戸寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Tokushima (徳島市) | Tokushima |
18 | Onzanji (恩山寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Komatsushima (小松島市) | Tokushima |
19 | Tatsueji (立江寺)1 | Shingon | Jizō Bosatsu | Komatsushima (小松島市) | Tokushima |
20 | Kakurinji (鶴林寺) | Shingon | Jizō Bosatsu | Katsuura (勝浦町) | Tokushima |
21 | Tairyūji (太竜寺) | Shingon | Kokūzō Bosatsu | Anan (阿南市) | Tokushima |
22 | Byōdōji (平等寺)1 | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Anan (阿南市) | Tokushima |
23 | Yakuōji (薬王寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Minami (美波町) | Tokushima |
24 | Hotsumisakiji (最御崎寺)1 | Shingon | Kokūzō Bosatsu | Muroto (室戸市) | Kōchi |
25 | Shinshōji (津照寺) | Shingon | Jizō Bosatsu | Muroto (室戸市) | Kōchi |
26 | Kongōchōji (金剛頂寺)1 | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Muroto (室戸市) | Kōchi |
27 | Kōnomineji (神峰寺) | Shingon | Jūichimen Kannon | Yasuda (安田町) | Kōchi |
28 | Dainichiji (大日寺) | Shingon | Dainichi Nyorai | Kōnan (香南市) | Kōchi |
29 | Kokubunji (国分寺) | Shingon | Senju Kannon | Nankoku (南国市) | Kōchi |
30 | Zenrakuji (善楽寺) | Shingon | Amida Nyorai | Kōchi (高知市) | Kōchi |
31 | Chikurinji (竹林寺) | Shingon | Monju Bosatsu | Kōchi (高知市) | Kōchi |
32 | Zenjibuji (禅師峰寺) | Shingon | Jūichimen Kannon | Nankoku (南国市) | Kōchi |
33 | Sekkeiji (雪蹊寺) | Zen (Rinzai) | Yakushi Nyorai | Kōchi (高知市) | Kōchi |
34 | Tanemaji (種間寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Haruno (春野町) | Kōchi |
35 | Kiyotakiji (清滝寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Tosa (土佐市) | Kōchi |
36 | Shōryūji (青竜寺) | Shingon | Fudō Myōō | Tosa (土佐市) | Kōchi |
37 | Iwamotoji (岩本寺)1 | Shingon | Five Buddhas | Shimanto (四万十町) | Kōchi |
38 | Kongōfukuji (金剛福寺)2 | Shingon | Senju Kannon | Tosashimizu (土佐清水市) | Kōchi |
39 | Enkōji (延光寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Sukumo (宿毛市) | Kōchi |
40 | Kanjizaiji (観自在寺)1 | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Ainan (愛南町) | Ehime |
41 | Ryūkōji (竜光寺) | Shingon | Jūichimen Kannon | Uwajima (宇和島市) | Ehime |
42 | Butsumokuji (佛木寺) | Shingon | Dainichi Nyorai | Uwajima (宇和島市) | Ehime |
43 | Meisekiji (明石寺) | Tendai | Senju Kannon | Seiyo (西予市) | Ehime |
44 | Daihōji (大宝寺)2 | Shingon | Jūichimen Kannon | Kuma-kōgen (久万高原町) | Ehime |
45 | Iwayaji (岩屋寺) | Shingon | Fudō Myōō | Kuma-kōgen (久万高原町) | Ehime |
46 | Jōruriji (浄瑠璃寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Matsuyama (松山市) | Ehime |
47 | Yasakaji (八坂寺) | Shingon | Amida Nyorai | Matsuyama (松山市) | Ehime |
48 | Sairinji (西林寺) | Shingon | Jūichimen Kannon | Matsuyama (松山市) | Ehime |
49 | Jōdoji (浄土寺) | Shingon | Shaka Nyorai | Matsuyama (松山市) | Ehime |
50 | Hantaji (繁多寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Matsuyama (松山市) | Ehime |
51 | Ishiteji (石手寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Matsuyama (松山市) | Ehime |
52 | Taizanji (太山寺) | Shingon | Jūichimen Kannon | Matsuyama (松山市) | Ehime |
53 | Enmyōji (円明寺) | Shingon | Amida Nyorai | Matsuyama (松山市) | Ehime |
54 | Enmeiji (延命寺) | Shingon | Fudō Myōō | Imabari (今治市) | Ehime |
55 | Nankōbō (南光坊) | Shingon | Daitsū-chishō Butsu | Imabari (今治市) | Ehime |
56 | Taisanji (泰山寺) | Shingon | Jizō Bosatsu | Imabari (今治市) | Ehime |
57 | Eifukuji (栄福寺) | Shingon | Amida Nyorai | Imabari (今治市) | Ehime |
58 | Senyūji (仙遊寺)1 | Shingon | Senjū Kannon | Imabari (今治市) | Ehime |
59 | Kokubunji (国分寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Imabari (今治市) | Ehime |
60 | Yokomineji (横峰寺) | Shingon | Dainichi Nyorai | Saijō (西条市) | Ehime |
61 | Kōonji (香園寺) | Shingon | Dainichi Nyorai | Saijō (西条市) | Ehime |
62 | Hōjuji (宝寿寺) | Shingon | Jūichimen Kannon | Saijō (西条市) | Ehime |
63 | Kichijōji (吉祥寺) | Shingon | Bishamonten | Saijō (西条市) | Ehime |
64 | Maegamiji (前神寺) | Shingon | Amida Nyorai | Saijō (西条市) | Ehime |
65 | Sankakuji (三角寺) | Shingon | Jūichimen Kannon | Shikoku-chūō (四国中央市) | Ehime |
66 | Unpenji (雲辺寺) | Shingon | Senju Kannon | Miyoshi (三好町) | Tokushima |
67 | Daikōji (大興寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Mitoyo (三豊市) | Kagawa |
68 | Jinnein (神恵院) | Shingon | Amida Nyorai | Kan-onji (観音寺市) | Kagawa |
69 | Kannonji (観音寺) | Shingon | Shō Kannon | Kan-onji (観音寺市) | Kagawa |
70 | Motoyamaji (本山寺) | Shingon | Batō Kannon | Mitoyo (三豊市) | Kagawa |
71 | Iyadaniji (弥谷寺) | Shingon | Senju Kannon | Mitoyo (三豊市) | Kagawa |
72 | Mandaraji (曼荼羅寺) | Shingon | Dainichi Nyorai | Zentsuji (善通寺市) | Kagawa |
73 | Shusshakaji (出釈迦寺) | Shingon | Shaka Nyorai | Zentsuji (善通寺市) | Kagawa |
74 | Kōyamaji (甲山寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Zentsuji (善通寺市) | Kagawa |
75 | Zentsuji (善通寺)1 | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Zentsuji (善通寺市) | Kagawa |
76 | Konzōji (金倉寺) | Tendai | Yakushi Nyorai | Zentsuji (善通寺市) | Kagawa |
77 | Dōryuji (道隆寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Tadotsu (多度津町) | Kagawa |
78 | Gōshoji (郷照寺) | Jishū | Amida Nyorai | Utazu (宇多津町) | Kagawa |
79 | Tennōji (天皇寺) | Shingon | Jūichimen Kannon | Sakaide (坂出市) | Kagawa |
80 | Kokubunji (国分寺) | Shingon | Jūichimen & Senjū Kannon | Takamatsu (高松市) | Kagawa |
81 | Shiromineji (白峯寺)2 | Shingon | Senju Kannon | Sakaide (坂出市) | Kagawa |
82 | Negoroji (根香寺) | Tendai | Senju Kannon | Takamatsu (高松市) | Kagawa |
83 | Ichinomiyaji (一宮寺) | Shingon | Shō Kannon | Takamatsu (高松市) | Kagawa |
84 | Yashimaji (屋島寺) | Shingon | Jūichimen & Senjū Kannon | Takamatsu (高松市) | Kagawa |
85 | Yakuriji (八栗寺) | Shingon | Shō Kannon | Takamatsu (高松市) | Kagawa |
86 | Shidoji (志度寺) | Shingon | Jūichimen Kannon | Sanuki (さぬき市) | Kagawa |
87 | Nagaoji (長尾寺) | Tendai | Shō Kannon | Sanuki (さぬき市) | Kagawa |
88 | ōkuboji (大窪寺) | Shingon | Yakushi Nyorai | Sanuki (さぬき市) | Kagawa |
1 Shukubō; overnight accommodation at the temple, also for individual travelers (as of May 2021).
2 Shukubō; overnight accommodation at the temple, for bus groups only (as of May 2021).
3 in Shingon Buddhism there are several schools, which are not indicated here