Kan'on-ji Temple, Buddhist temple in Kanonji, Japan

Kan'on-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kan'onji featuring several buildings arranged across its grounds. The complex includes a Main Hall, Daishi Hall, Aizen Hall, and Medicine Buddha Hall.

The temple began in the Nara period as Jingūji Hōkōin, the shrine temple of Kotohiki Hachimangū, which tradition links to the monk Nisshō enshrining a zither and boat at Mount Kotohiki. In 807 Kūkai is said to have entered as seventh abbot, carved a seated Dainichi statue revered as Kannon, and laid out seven halls, renaming the site Shippōzan Kan'on-ji. It later became a place of imperial prayer for three generations of emperors, and the monk Dōson served as abbot for 45 years in the Muromachi period.

This temple serves as the 69th station on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, a route connecting 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi. Pilgrims visit here as a major stop on their spiritual journey through the region.

You can reach the temple from JR Shikoku Yosan Line's Kanonji Station or from Kotohiki Park bus stop, both within walking distance. It helps to wear comfortable shoes since the grounds are best explored on foot.

The temple houses several objects designated as cultural treasures, including silk-painted Mandala diagrams and carved Buddhist statues. These works of art testify to the artistic skills of earlier craftspeople and artisans.