The fiftieth temple is Hanta-ji (繁多寺), set on a hill above Matsuyama and enshrining Yakushi Nyorai.
It lies about 2.8 km from the fifty-first temple, with views out over the city and the sea.
This is the entrance to Hanta-ji. It is an ordinary Japanese temple gate, but the atmosphere about it is good.
Beyond it the grounds open onto a wide, calming view of Matsuyama Castle and the Seto Inland Sea.
This is the main hall, where Yakushi Nyorai is enshrined. There were few other visitors, and I was able to recite the Heart Sutra in peace.
The quiet made it easy to settle fully into the prayer.
Next I recited the Heart Sutra at the Daishi-dō. I was struck by the many thousands of folded paper cranes on display there.
All those small wishes, gathered together, made a quietly moving sight.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #39 Goshuin of Hanta-ji（繁多寺） –
This is the goshuin of the fiftieth temple, Hanta-ji, brushed on its hill above the city.
Forty-nine temples still remained on my journey — and at fifty done, the end no longer felt so far.
The distance to the next temple was about 1.7 km, a short walk with the sea in view.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Hanta-ji (Temple 50)?
The honzon (principal image) of Hanta-ji（繁多寺）, Temple 50 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 Hanta-ji located?
Hanta-ji stands in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, in the old province of Iyo, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the fiftieth 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 Hanta-ji belong to?
Hanta-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Buzan school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Higashiyama Rurikō-in（東山 瑠璃光院）.
When was Hanta-ji founded?
Hanta-ji was founded mid-8th century by order of Empress Kōken; image carved by Gyōki. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Hanta-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 51, Ishite-ji (about 2.8 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Hanta-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.