The eighty-sixth temple is Shido-ji (志度寺), one of the oldest temples on the route, enshrining an Eleven-Headed Kannon.
It lies about 7.0 km from the eighty-seventh temple, by the sea in Sanuki.
At the entrance to Shido-ji, as at the eighty-eighth and eighty-seventh temples, hang large straw sandals, with guardians standing to either side of the gate.
By now these great sandals had become a familiar greeting.
Someone, it seemed, had left their walking staff resting near the Buddhist statues.
A small, human trace of the many pilgrims who pass this way.
This is the main hall, where the Eleven-Headed Kannon is enshrined.
The temple is famous for the tragic tale of the ama, the woman diver who gave her life to recover a sacred jewel from the sea.
Next, at the Daishi-dō, I recited the Heart Sutra once more, praying for the safety of my family and for peace in the world.
The ama’s tomb stands within these very grounds, and her story is told in a famous Noh play.
On the way toward the next temple I came across an udon shop.
The smell of broth was hard to walk past.
Udon is a soul food in Japan — cheap, filling and delicious, and in Kagawa it is reckoned the best in the whole country.
No pilgrimage through this province is complete without a bowl or two.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #03 Goshuin of Shido-ji（志度寺） –
This is the goshuin of the eighty-sixth temple, Shido-ji, with beautiful, flowing calligraphy.
Eighty-five temples still remained on my journey, the tragic tale of the diving ama lingering with me.
The distance to the next temple was about 7.0 km, a steady walk by the sea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Shido-ji (Temple 86)?
The honzon (principal image) of Shido-ji（志度寺）, Temple 86 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Jūichimen Kanzeon Bosatsu（十一面観世音菩薩）. It is enshrined in the temple's main hall (hondō), where pilgrims offer incense, recite the Heart Sutra, and receive the temple's goshuin (hand-brushed seal).
Where is Shido-ji located?
Shido-ji stands in Sanuki, Kagawa Prefecture, in the old province of Sanuki, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the eighty-sixth of the eighty-eight temples of the Shikoku Henro, the circular Buddhist pilgrimage walked in the path of Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai).
Which Buddhist sect does Shido-ji belong to?
Shido-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Zentsū-ji school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Fudarakusan Shido-ji（補陀洛山 志度寺）.
When was Shido-ji founded?
Shido-ji was founded in 625. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Shido-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 87, Nagao-ji (about 7.0 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Shido-ji to keep visiting each of the 88 temples and collecting their goshuin.
📖 See the full list of all 88 Shikoku temples →
Can’t make the pilgrimage yourself?Ohenro Gift can walk the 88 temples on your behalf (daisan) and deliver the completed nokyocho.