The fifty-second temple is Taisan-ji (太山寺), which enshrines an Eleven-Headed Kannon in a main hall that is a National Treasure.
It lies about 2.5 km from the fifty-third temple, set among green, wooded hills.
This is the entrance to Taisan-ji. An old wooden gate appears along an approach road thick with greenery and rich in nature.
The leafy quiet sets a gentle tone for the climb ahead.
On the way up stands a statue of Dainichi Nyorai, welcoming worshippers as they pass.
It is a calm, reassuring presence at the foot of the climb.
Further on, a long stone staircase leads up, and at the top a very splendid gate appears once more.
The second gate, after the climb, makes a fine reward for the effort.
This is the main hall, where the Eleven-Headed Kannon is enshrined. The hall is very large, and the curve of its roof is beautiful — fittingly, for it is a National Treasure.
Legend says a grateful merchant had it raised in a single night.
Climbing on, you reach the Daishi-dō.
Set above the main hall, it commands a quiet view back over the grounds.
Chanting the sutra here alongside other pilgrims, I prayed for the safety of my family and for peace in the world.
Shared recitation gives the words an unexpected warmth.
This temple has a tower that rings a magnificent bell.
Its deep tone carries beautifully through the wooded grounds.
Historical paintings and family crests adorn the walls and ceiling.
They are a reminder of the noble patrons who supported this temple over the centuries.
That night I visited Dōgo Onsen, said to be the oldest hot spring in Japan and an inspiration for the famous Studio Ghibli film.
To soak there after a long day of walking felt like a real luxury.
For dinner I had nabeyaki udon; warmed already by the hot spring, the hot bowl seemed to do me even more good.
Small comforts like this are among the quiet joys of the journey.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #37 Goshuin of Taisan-ji（太山寺） –
This is the goshuin of the fifty-second temple, Taisan-ji. The first character is fine; the latter half is perhaps a touch unruly.
Fifty-one temples still remained on my journey, the National Treasure hall fresh in my mind.
The distance to the next temple was about 11.8 km, a fair walk through the hills.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Taisan-ji (Temple 52)?
The honzon (principal image) of Taisan-ji（太山寺）, Temple 52 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Jūichimen Kanzeon Bosatsu（十一面観世音菩薩）. 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 Taisan-ji located?
Taisan-ji stands in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, in the old province of Iyo, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the fifty-second 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 Taisan-ji belong to?
Taisan-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Buzan school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Ryūunzan Goji-in（瀧雲山 護持院）.
When was Taisan-ji founded?
Taisan-ji was founded by Mano-no-Chōja; converted to Shingon by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai). Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Taisan-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 53, Enmyō-ji (about 2.5 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Taisan-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.