Yashima-ji, Buddhist temple on Mount Yashima, Takamatsu, Japan
Yashima-ji is a Buddhist temple situated on a mountain near Takamatsu at roughly 341 meters elevation, displaying traditional Japanese architecture with vermillion gates and wooden structures. The grounds contain multiple buildings and shrines spread across the summit.
The temple was established in 754 by the Chinese monk Ganjin as a religious center in the region. It later gained prominence as a strategic location during the Genpei War, when rival clans contested control of the area.
The temple serves as the 84th station on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, a sacred route that draws pilgrims seeking spiritual fulfillment through walking. This role has shaped how locals and visitors experience the grounds as a place of devotion and reflection.
The temple is accessible by shuttle bus from Takamatsu Station or by car, with parking available at the mountain summit. Comfortable shoes are recommended as the grounds are hilly with stairs connecting the various buildings and viewing areas.
The grounds feature a shrine dedicated to Tazaburo, a tanuki badger who appears in local legends as a leader of Shikoku badgers and is honored in worship. This unusual religious focus reveals how animal deities remain part of temple worship practices in Japan.
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