明徳寺, Buddhist temple in Izu, Japan

Myokutokuji is a Buddhist temple in Izu featuring multiple Buddhist statues throughout its grounds, with protective guardian demons positioned at the entrance and a central main hall. The complex includes a graveyard section that opens toward the surrounding hills and ocean views.

Myotokuji was founded by Rizan Chueki during the Meitoku era, at the end of the Northern and Southern Courts period, which places its origin in the late 14th century. It belongs to the Soto school of Zen Buddhism and is dedicated to Ususama Myoo, the deity held to guard toilets and purify impurity. The temple is one of the stops on the Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage of the Amagi hot spring district, where it is assigned Daikokuten.

The temple is dedicated to Ususama Myōō, a deity believed to purify impurity and protect toilets. Visitors rub or step over the "osasuri" and "omatagi" figures for relief from lower-body ailments. On 29 August each year it hosts the Tōji Matsuri, one of Izu's three strange festivals, and it is the Daikokuten stop on the Amagi Onsen Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage.

The grounds are straightforward to navigate, with distinct areas for prayer and a graveyard section offering good views. Visitors benefit from taking time to explore the different statue placements and spaces throughout the site.

The protective guardian statues at the entrance are displayed behind glass panels that create reflective surfaces and change their appearance throughout the day. These reflections give the figures a different presence as light shifts.