Nankou-bou, Buddhist temple in Imabari, Japan
Nankou-bou is a Buddhist temple in Imabari that serves as a stop on the Shikoku pilgrimage route, covering a large area across several city blocks. The grounds hold a main hall, a Daishi-do hall, wooden entrance gates, and guardian statues decorated with gold leaf.
The original temple buildings were destroyed during World War II bombing raids on Imabari and later rebuilt entirely in concrete. The site has otherwise remained part of the Shikoku pilgrimage circuit since the route was established centuries ago.
Nankou-bou is the 55th temple on the Shikoku pilgrimage circuit, a route that takes walkers through all four prefectures of Shikoku island. Pilgrims dressed in white robes and carrying wooden staffs pass through here regularly, making devotion a visible part of everyday life at the site.
The grounds are large, so it is worth setting aside enough time to walk between the different halls and gates without rushing. Comfortable shoes are a good idea, as the paths between buildings cover a fair amount of ground.
The suffix 'bo' in the name usually suggests a small sub-temple in Japanese tradition, yet this site is among the largest of all 88 temples on the pilgrimage route. The gap between what the name implies and what visitors actually find on the ground is something many notice only after arriving.
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