The eighty-second temple is Negoro-ji (根香寺), a mountain temple on Mt. Aomine, enshrining Senju Kannon.
It lies about 11.9 km from the eighty-third temple, among the cedars of the Goshikidai.
At the entrance to Negoro-ji hang large straw sandals.
Offered for strong legs, they are a familiar and welcome sight to a walking pilgrim.
Kongō Rikishi guardians welcome you from either side of the gate.
Their fierce forms set a solemn tone for the climb within.
The camera could not quite do it justice, but there were many statues of Kannon and rows of lanterns here.
Together they give the approach a deep, devotional atmosphere.
This is the main hall, where Senju Kannon is enshrined. I happened to arrive together with a pilgrimage tour group.
The temple is famous for the legend of the Ushi-oni, an ox-demon whose horns are kept here to this day.
At the Daishi-dō I recited the Heart Sutra alongside the tour party. At such times you simply have to fall into step with everyone.
Praying among strangers has its own quiet fellowship.
There is an old, large tree here as well, standing quietly in the grounds.
Such ancient trees seem to belong to the very spirit of a mountain temple.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #07 Goshuin of Negoro-ji（根香寺） –
This is the goshuin of the eighty-second temple, Negoro-ji, a memento of the temple of the ox-demon’s horns.
Eighty-one temples still remained on my journey, the deep cedars of Mt. Aomine all around.
The distance to the next temple was about 11.9 km, a fair walk down toward Takamatsu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Negoro-ji (Temple 82)?
The honzon (principal image) of Negoro-ji（根香寺）, Temple 82 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Senju Kanzeon Bosatsu（千手観世音菩薩）. 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 Negoro-ji located?
Negoro-ji stands in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, in the old province of Sanuki, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the eighty-second 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 Negoro-ji belong to?
Negoro-ji belongs to the Tendai school of Buddhism. Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Aominezan Senju-in（青峰山 千手院）.
When was Negoro-ji founded?
Negoro-ji was founded by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai); the image carved by Chishō Daishi. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Negoro-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 83, Ichinomiya-ji (about 11.9 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Negoro-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.