Ryuukou-ji, Buddhist temple in Uwajima, Japan
Ryuukou-ji is a Buddhist temple in Uwajima with several buildings including a main hall, a founder's hall, and stairs ascending to an Inari shrine marked by a red gate. The grounds contain multiple prayer areas and religious structures open to visitors.
The temple was founded in the 9th century by the Buddhist monk Kukai, who installed a statue of Inari Myojin and created a multi-faced statue for the site. This early establishment shaped the temple's religious importance.
The temple serves as stop 41 on the Shikoku pilgrimage route and shows how Buddhist and Shinto practices exist together here. You can see this blend in the different shrines and prayer areas scattered across the grounds.
The temple sits in the northeastern part of Uwajima's Mima district and is open for visitors to explore on foot. The different halls and the Inari shrine are accessible to those interested in observing or participating in prayer activities.
Inside the main hall sits a small black stone called the dragon's eye, which holds special spiritual meaning for those who visit. Few pilgrims realize this simple object was central to the temple's sacred traditions.
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