Jouraku-ji, Buddhist temple in Tokushima, Japan.
Jouraku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Tokushima and one of the 88 sacred sites on the Shikoku pilgrimage route. Its grounds include a main hall and a priest's residence, both built in traditional wooden construction.
The temple was founded during the Konin era, between 810 and 824. It was later rebuilt during the Manji period with support from the Hachisuka clan, the ruling family of the region at the time.
Jouraku-ji is the 14th station on the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage, and walking visitors in white robes are a common sight on its grounds. The temple enshrines Miroku Bosatsu, a figure associated with the future, and many pilgrims stop here to pray before continuing along the route.
The temple is in the Enmei area of Tokushima and is generally open to visitors throughout the year. Pilgrims walking the full route typically wear white robes, but casual visitors are welcome on the grounds as well.
The inner sanctuary of this temple, known as Jigenji, is considered a key landmark by pilgrims walking the full Shikoku route on foot. The main hall and the priest's residence were both registered as Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan in July 2011, which is relatively recent for structures of this age.
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