Anraku-ji, Buddhist temple in Kamiita, Japan
Anraku-ji is a Buddhist temple in Kamiita, in Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. It is part of the network of 88 temples along the Shikoku Pilgrimage and consists of a main prayer hall, a bell tower, and several smaller buildings set on a well-kept grounds.
The temple is said to have been founded by the Buddhist monk Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi, in the early 9th century. Over the centuries, it became a regular stop for pilgrims walking the full circuit of Shikoku.
Anraku-ji is the 6th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, and many visitors arrive dressed in the traditional white pilgrim robe known as hakui. Watching pilgrims chant and burn incense at the main hall gives a real sense of how this tradition is still practiced today.
The temple is located outside the center of Kamiita and is most easily reached by car or bicycle. Comfortable footwear is a good idea, as moving between the different buildings on the grounds requires a fair amount of walking.
Anraku-ji is one of the few temples on the Shikoku circuit that offers shukubo, meaning pilgrims can spend the night on the temple grounds. Guests who stay are invited to join the early morning prayer service before the day visitors arrive.
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