The sixty-first temple is Kōon-ji (香園寺), which enshrines Dainichi Nyorai and is long revered for safe childbirth and child-rearing.
It lies just about 1.3 km from the sixty-second temple, in the Saijō district.
Kōon-ji has no conventional gate or entrance, and the main hall itself scarcely looks like a temple — something traditional-minded pilgrims may find hard to accept.
It is a bold, unexpected sight on the pilgrimage trail.
This is the interior of the main hall, where a large golden Dainichi Nyorai is enshrined. The image is big and powerful, though it is a little bit of a shame that the building is so modern.
For all that, the great hall has a real presence, and is revered as a place of “Koyasu Daishi,” the Daishi of safe childbirth.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #28 Goshuin of Kōon-ji（香園寺） –
This is the goshuin of the sixty-first temple, Kōon-ji. Written with a fine brush, it looks finely practised, though it is a pity the ink has faded a little.
Sixty temples still remained on my journey — and with sixty done, the final stretch was in sight.
The distance to the next temple was about 9.5 km, a fair walk back toward the plain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Kōon-ji (Temple 61)?
The honzon (principal image) of Kōon-ji（香園寺）, Temple 61 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Dainichi Nyorai（大日如来）. 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 Kōon-ji located?
Kōon-ji stands in Saijō, Ehime Prefecture, in the old province of Iyo, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the sixty-first 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 Kōon-ji belong to?
Kōon-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Omuro school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Sendanzan Kyōō-in（栴檀山 教王院）.
When was Kōon-ji founded?
Kōon-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 Kōon-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 62, Hōju-ji (about 1.3 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Kōon-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.