Hashikura-ji, Buddhist temple in Ikedachō Shūzu, Japan.
Hashikura-ji is a temple situated on a ridge extending southeast from Mount Hashikura at 720 meters elevation. The complex includes a main hall and a prayer hall that together form the core of the place.
Buddhist monk Kūkai founded this temple in 828 during the Heian period after discovering spiritual energy at this mountainous location. The long history of the place is deeply tied to the practice of fire rituals, which have continued daily since then.
This temple serves as the fifteenth station on the Shikoku Bekkaku Nijū Reijō pilgrimage route, drawing visitors who undertake this sacred journey. The daily fire rituals shape the rhythm of the place and connect it to a spiritual tradition spanning more than a thousand years.
The prayer hall is the best place to witness the fire rituals that occur at 6:30 in the morning or at 18:00 in the evening, both happening daily. The path up to the elevation requires some fitness, so plan time and bring appropriate footwear.
Local folklore tells of tengu spirits bringing ceremonial chopsticks to this temple, leading to an annual ceremony held on August 4 to honor this practice. This tradition blends old stories with contemporary religious life at the site.
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