The seventieth temple is Motoyama-ji (本山寺), the only temple on the route to enshrine the horse-headed Batō Kannon.
It lies about 11.3 km from the seventy-first temple, set in broad, open grounds.
The entrance to Motoyama-ji has only a small gate, but it exudes a real old-fashioned charm.
Beyond it the grounds open out far wider than that modest gate suggests.
This is the main hall, where Batō Kannon is enshrined. Uncommon for a pilgrimage temple, a Buddhist flag stands out prominently before it.
The hall itself, rebuilt around 1300, is a National Treasure — a quietly magnificent survivor of the centuries.
This is the Daishi-dō. Even the floor, wet from the rain, somehow added to the atmosphere as I recited the Heart Sutra.
Rising over the grounds nearby is the temple’s great five-storey pagoda, its finest landmark.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #19 Goshuin of Motoyama-ji（本山寺） –
This is the goshuin of the seventieth temple, Motoyama-ji. The characters carry a real sense of dynamism, as splendid as any master calligrapher’s hand.
Sixty-nine temples still remained on my journey, the great five-storey pagoda rising behind me.
The distance to the next temple was about 4.5 km, a pleasant walk across the plain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Motoyama-ji (Temple 70)?
The honzon (principal image) of Motoyama-ji（本山寺）, Temple 70 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Batō Kanzeon Bosatsu（馬頭観世音菩薩）. 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 Motoyama-ji located?
Motoyama-ji stands in Mitoyo, Kagawa Prefecture, in the old province of Sanuki, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the seventieth 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 Motoyama-ji belong to?
Motoyama-ji belongs to the Kōyasan school of Shingon Buddhism. Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Shippōzan Jihō-in（七宝山 持宝院）.
When was Motoyama-ji founded?
Motoyama-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 Motoyama-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 71, Iyadani-ji (about 11.3 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Motoyama-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.