The thirty-eighth temple is Kongōfuku-ji (金剛福寺), standing at Cape Ashizuri, the southernmost point of Shikoku, and enshrining a three-faced Senju Kannon.
It lies a long 72.5 km from the thirty-ninth temple — the journey out to the cape is a real undertaking.
This is the entrance to Kongōfuku-ji. It had been partly restored, and the timber still showed its fresh, new colour.
After the long road to the cape, the bright gate made a cheering sight.
This is the main hall, where Senju Kannon is enshrined. It is a very large hall, and an old one.
Kōbō Daishi is said to have carved the three-faced Kannon here, gazing out over the Pacific toward Kannon’s Pure Land.
This is the Daishi-dō, its walls beautiful as if freshly restored. Before it I prayed for the safety of my family and for peace in the world.
The bright, well-kept hall made the prayer feel all the more uplifting.
Facing the sea as it does, the temple even enshrines sea turtles within its grounds.
It is a charming touch that ties the temple closely to the ocean at its doorstep.
The precincts are very large and beautiful, laid out like a Japanese garden, with much to catch the eye.
You could happily wander here for a long while, taking it all in.
On the pillars in the grounds are written the words “World Peace.”
It is a simple message, but a moving one to come upon at the very edge of the island.
Kongōfuku-ji sits at Cape Ashizuri, the southernmost cape of Shikoku and one of the great stages of the pilgrimage.
To stand here, so far out, gives a real sense of how far the journey has come.
The view of the sea from the cape is, quite simply, superb — the Pacific opening out to the horizon.
It is easy to see why Kōbō Daishi felt Kannon’s paradise lay somewhere beyond that water.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #51 Goshuin of Kongōfuku-ji（金剛福寺） –
This is the goshuin of the thirty-eighth temple, Kongōfuku-ji, received at the southern tip of Shikoku.
Thirty-seven temples still remained on my journey, the Pacific stretching toward Kannon’s far paradise.
The distance to the next temple was about 80.7 km — the long road back from the cape.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Kongōfuku-ji (Temple 38)?
The honzon (principal image) of Kongōfuku-ji（金剛福寺）, Temple 38 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Senju Kanzeon Bosatsu（三面千手観世音菩薩）. 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 Kongōfuku-ji located?
Kongōfuku-ji stands in Tosashimizu, Kōchi Prefecture, in the old province of Tosa, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the thirty-eighth 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 Kongōfuku-ji belong to?
Kongōfuku-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Buzan school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Sadazan Fudaraku-in（蹉跎山 補陀洛院）.
When was Kongōfuku-ji founded?
Kongōfuku-ji was founded by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai) in 822, by order of Emperor Saga. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Kongōfuku-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 39, Enkō-ji (about 72.5 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Kongōfuku-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.