Ido-ji, Buddhist pilgrimage temple in Tokushima, Japan
Ido-ji is a Buddhist temple and the 17th stop on the 88-temple Shikoku pilgrimage circuit, located in Tokushima, Japan. The grounds hold traditional wooden halls, stone lanterns, and a central courtyard connected to several small worship spaces arranged around it.
The temple is traditionally said to have been founded in the 9th century by the monk Kūkai, also known as Kōbō Daishi. It was rebuilt several times over the following centuries but remained a continuous stop on the Shikoku route throughout.
Ido-ji is the 17th stop on the Shikoku pilgrimage, one of the most traveled religious routes in Japan, associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai. Pilgrims who walk the route, known as henro, typically wear white robes and carry a wooden staff that represents Kūkai traveling with them.
The temple is reachable on foot from nearby stops on the pilgrimage route and has basic facilities for pilgrims on site. A temple stamp, called a shuin, can be collected at the temple office and is a common keepsake for those walking the circuit.
The temple's name, Ido-ji, literally means 'well temple,' referring to an old well on the grounds that once supplied water to travelers on the route. That well is still visible today and serves as a reminder that this stop had a practical role long before it became primarily a place of worship.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
