Dainichi-ji, Buddhist temple in Itano, Japan

Dainichi-ji is a Tōji Shingon temple in Kurotani, Itano, Tokushima Prefecture, temple 4 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage. Its main image is a 56 cm seated Dainichi Nyorai, said to have been carved by Kōbō Daishi. A bell-tower gate rebuilt in 2018 leads past a pond to the main hall, built in 1649, and a corridor with 33 Kannon statues connects it to the Daishi hall.

The temple is said to have been founded in the early 800s by Kobo Daishi, the monk credited with establishing the Shikoku pilgrimage route as a whole. He is also said to have carved the main statue himself, which remains at the heart of the site today.

The temple's name comes from Dainichi Nyorai, the main image carved by Kōbō Daishi. The goeika pilgrim song mentions gazing at the white moon over Kurotani and the dark-dyed sleeves of pilgrims. The temple hall also displays a two-sided portrait of Kōbō Daishi, painted white for day and dark blue for night by the former abbot.

The temple sits in a rural area, so arriving by car or bicycle is the most straightforward option for most visitors. Wear comfortable shoes, as the ground across the temple grounds can be uneven in places.

Although this is only the fourth of eighty-eight stations, many pilgrims later describe it as the point where the route starts to feel genuinely remote, as the first three temples are all closer to the city of Tokushima. From here, the path moves into open countryside, and the rhythm of walking changes noticeably.