The seventy-fourth temple is Kōyama-ji (甲山寺), the “Helmet Mountain” temple, which enshrines Yakushi Nyorai.
It lies about 1.6 km from the seventy-fifth temple, in the district of Kōbō Daishi’s birth.
The entrance to Kōyama-ji is designed in the manner of the more recent temples. An elderly pilgrim sat resting on a stone signpost, looking very tired.
The sight was a quiet reminder of how demanding this long journey can be.
In the middle of the grounds stands another small gate, where a bell may once have hung.
Such small remnants hint at how the temple looked in earlier days.
This is the main hall, where Yakushi Nyorai is enshrined, with strings of senbazuru — a thousand folded cranes — hanging to one side.
The cranes, left by many hands, make a quietly moving sight.
The Daishi-dō is a little smaller. There I chanted the Heart Sutra, praying for the safety of my family and for peace in the world.
To pray here, in the land of Kōbō Daishi’s childhood, felt fitting.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #15 Goshuin of Kōyama-ji（甲山寺） –
This is the goshuin of the seventy-fourth temple, Kōyama-ji, brushed in the land of Kōbō Daishi’s birth.
Seventy-three temples still remained on my journey, the great Zentsū-ji now close ahead.
The distance to the next temple was about 2.8 km, a short and easy walk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Kōyama-ji (Temple 74)?
The honzon (principal image) of Kōyama-ji（甲山寺）, Temple 74 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Yakushi Nyorai（薬師如来）. 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 Kōyama-ji located?
Kōyama-ji stands in Zentsūji, Kagawa Prefecture, in the old province of Sanuki, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the seventy-fourth 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 Kōyama-ji belong to?
Kōyama-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 Iōzan Tahō-in（医王山 多宝院）.
When was Kōyama-ji founded?
Kōyama-ji was founded by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai), early 9th century. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Kōyama-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 75, Zentsū-ji (about 1.6 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Kōyama-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.