The fifty-ninth temple is Iyo Kokubun-ji (伊予国分寺), the old provincial temple of Iyo, enshrining Yakushi Nyorai.
It lies about 27.0 km from the sixtieth temple, on the plain near Imabari.
Iyo Kokubun-ji has no gate; you climb a flight of stairs to reach the main hall. A temple without a gate feels a little disappointing, but there is nothing to be done about it.
Even so, the open approach has a plain, honest charm of its own.
This is the main hall, where Yakushi Nyorai is enshrined. Perhaps because of the fine weather, there were many other pilgrims, and the chanting rang out strongly.
Joining so many voices made the recitation feel especially alive.
Next I recited the Heart Sutra at the Daishi-dō, praying for the safety of my friends, my partner and my family, and for peace in the world.
The familiar words had long since become a steady companion.
Here you can shake hands with a statue of Kōbō Daishi and make a single wish. Only one, mind — for the Daishi is busy, and two or three cannot be granted, which I found rather charming.
I clasped his hand and made my one quiet request.
As the Healing Buddha is enshrined here, a stone carved in the shape of a medicine pot stands in the grounds.
It is a fitting emblem for a temple devoted to Yakushi Nyorai.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #30 Goshuin of Iyo Kokubun-ji（伊予国分寺） –
This is the goshuin of the fifty-ninth temple, Iyo Kokubun-ji — its flowing characters almost like the trail of a snake.
Fifty-eight temples still remained on my journey, the old provincial temple now behind me.
The distance to the next temple was about 9.5 km, a fair walk toward the mountains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Iyo Kokubun-ji (Temple 59)?
The honzon (principal image) of Iyo Kokubun-ji（伊予国分寺）, Temple 59 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 Iyo Kokubun-ji located?
Iyo Kokubun-ji stands in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, in the old province of Iyo, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the fifty-ninth 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 Iyo Kokubun-ji belong to?
Iyo Kokubun-ji belongs to the Shingon Risshū school of Buddhism. Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Kongōzan Saishō-in（金光山 最勝院）.
When was Iyo Kokubun-ji founded?
Iyo Kokubun-ji was founded as Iyo’s provincial temple under Emperor Shōmu’s 741 edict. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Iyo Kokubun-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 60, Yokomine-ji (about 27.0 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Iyo Kokubun-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.