The sixtieth temple is Yokomine-ji (横峰寺), set high on the slopes of Mt. Ishizuchi and enshrining Dainichi Nyorai.
It lies about 9.5 km from the sixty-first temple, and has long been counted among the hardest temples of all to reach.
This is the entrance to Yokomine-ji, deep in the mountains.
After the long climb up, simply arriving at the gate feels like an achievement.
Along the way I came upon a thankful saying: “The path to betterment opens when you face your mistakes honestly.”
Words like these, met on the road, have a way of staying with you.
This is the main hall, where Dainichi Nyorai is enshrined. In the quiet, empty precincts my chanting echoed all around.
The stillness of the mountain made the sutra feel almost magnified.
I recited the Heart Sutra at the Daishi-dō, which is small but carries a strong presence. There I prayed for the safety of my family and for peace in the world.
Even a modest hall can hold real weight when set in such surroundings.
On the way toward the next temple I passed a dam, the contrast of light and shadow across it beautiful. I decided to stay the night somewhere it could be seen.
Mountain scenery like this is one of the quiet rewards of the harder stretches.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #29 Goshuin of Yokomine-ji（横峰寺） –
This is the goshuin of the sixtieth temple, Yokomine-ji — fine and delicate, and really very good.
Fifty-nine temples still remained on my journey, the hard climb up Mt. Ishizuchi now rewarded.
The distance to the next temple was about 27.0 km — a long road down from the heights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Yokomine-ji (Temple 60)?
The honzon (principal image) of Yokomine-ji（横峰寺）, Temple 60 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 Yokomine-ji located?
Yokomine-ji stands in Saijō, Ehime Prefecture, in the old province of Iyo, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the sixtieth 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 Yokomine-ji belong to?
Yokomine-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Omuro school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Ishizuchisan Fukuchi-in（石鈇山 福智院）.
When was Yokomine-ji founded?
Yokomine-ji was founded by En no Gyōja; the image carved by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai). Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Yokomine-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 61, Kōon-ji (about 9.5 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Yokomine-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.