Konsen-ji, Buddhist temple in Itano, Japan
Konsen-ji is a Buddhist temple in Itano, sitting at the foot of a hill, and it belongs to the reijō category as one of the 88 sacred stops on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. The grounds hold several wooden halls, a small garden, a hand-washing fountain at the entrance, and a temple office where pilgrims receive an ink stamp.
The temple is traditionally credited to the monk Gyoki, who is said to have established it in the early 9th century. The current buildings were largely rebuilt during the Edo period after earlier structures were lost to fire.
Pilgrims come here as part of a long walking route across Shikoku and follow a set of rituals at the main hall, including lighting incense and chanting before the principal statue. Collecting an ink stamp from the temple office is a key moment in the visit, as it marks progress along the route.
The grounds have uneven paths and some steps, so sturdy footwear is a good idea. Visiting early in the day gives you more space to move around before larger groups of pilgrims arrive.
Although this is already the third stop on the Shikoku route, the first five temples are clustered closely together, which means some pilgrims walk between them all in a single day. This early stretch gives first-time walkers a sense of steady progress before the longer gaps between temples begin.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
