Iyokokubun-ji, Buddhist temple and pilgrimage site in Imabari, Japan
Iyokokubun-ji is a Buddhist temple in Imabari serving as the 59th station of the Shikoku pilgrimage route. The grounds hold multiple traditional buildings, stone sculptures, and structures that have been maintained across many generations.
Emperor Shomu ordered the temple built in 741 as part of a national network of provincial sanctuaries intended to protect the realm. This founding period links the site to an era when such temples served as major institutional centers.
Pilgrims traveling the Shikoku route stop here as part of a spiritual journey that has drawn visitors for centuries. The temple grounds reflect how the site continues to serve as a meeting place for both local worshippers and those undertaking the longer pilgrimage.
The temple can be reached by car from Imabari Station or via Setouchi Bus service. The grounds offer ample parking and are freely accessible without entrance fees.
The grounds contain foundation stones of an ancient pagoda and are believed to rest on the former site of the Iyo Provincial Government. This hidden history adds an archaeological dimension that connects the temple to earlier administrative centers.
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