The forty-first temple is Ryūkō-ji (竜光寺), enshrining an Eleven-Headed Kannon, and long revered as an Inari temple.
It lies about 2.6 km from the forty-second temple, near the castle town of Uwajima.
This is the entrance to Ryūkō-ji. I looked, but the temple seems to have no gate; a shrine torii stands at the back instead, so temple and shrine share the same grounds.
That blending of Buddhism and Shinto gives the place its distinctive character.
This is the main hall, where the Eleven-Headed Kannon is enshrined.
I offered incense and recited the sutra, with the Inari shrine looking on from behind.
The Daishi-dō is a small hall, but here too I chanted the Heart Sutra, wishing for the safety of my family and for peace in the world.
Even the smallest halls hold the same quiet weight when you stand before them.
On the way toward the next temple stands Uwajima Castle, a genuine Japanese castle with its original keep.
To find such a castle so near the route was a happy surprise.
Small though it is, the castle is popular with visitors precisely because it is the real thing.
There is a presence to an original keep that no reconstruction quite matches.
The feeling of old timber lingers throughout the castle, and it is genuinely soothing to walk around.
A quiet detour like this is one of the unexpected pleasures of the pilgrimage.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #48 Goshuin of Ryūkō-ji（竜光寺） –
This is the goshuin of the forty-first temple, Ryūkō-ji. The flow of the brush leaves a kind of afterimage, like a small work of art.
Forty temples still remained on my journey — and with forty done, I was squarely past the midpoint.
The distance to the next temple was about 50.2 km, one of the longest legs of all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Ryūkō-ji (Temple 41)?
The honzon (principal image) of Ryūkō-ji（竜光寺）, Temple 41 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 Ryūkō-ji located?
Ryūkō-ji stands in Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture, in the old province of Iyo, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the forty-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 Ryūkō-ji belong to?
Ryūkō-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Buzan school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Inarizan Gokoku-in（稲荷山 護国院）.
When was Ryūkō-ji founded?
Ryūkō-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 Ryūkō-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 42, Butsumoku-ji (about 2.6 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Ryūkō-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.