Shousan-ji, Buddhist temple in Kamiyama, Japan.
Shousan-ji is a Buddhist temple situated at an elevation of 938 meters and surrounded by ancient cedar trees, some with trunks measuring about 5 meters in circumference. The grounds span multiple levels with various structures and sacred areas.
The temple was founded in 815 during the Heian period and developed into an important religious center. It later became the twelfth station along the Shikoku Pilgrimage route, a path followed by Buddhist practitioners for centuries.
The temple houses a rare three-faced Daikoku statue carved by Kukai that depicts Daikoku, Bishamonten, and Benzaiten in a single work. This sculpture reflects devotional practices that visitors can still sense in the temple's sacred spaces today.
Access is via bus from Tokushima Station, with a journey of around 90 minutes, and the temple office is open daily from 7:00 to 16:00. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear since the paths to temple areas are hilly and uneven.
A secluded mountain path leads about one kilometer through the grounds to the inner sanctuary, passing rock formations and sacred spots tied to ancient legends. Many visitors overlook this remote trail, though it remains a core part of the pilgrimage experience.
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