The thirty-fifth temple is Kiyotaki-ji (清滝寺), the “Clear Waterfall Temple,” set on a mountainside and enshrining Yakushi Nyorai.
It stands about 13.9 km from the thirty-sixth temple, up among the hills above Tosa city.
This is the entrance to Kiyotaki-ji. It is a pity that the temple has no gate and that a car park now serves as the way in.
Even so, the mountain setting quickly makes up for that plain first impression.
This is the main hall, where Yakushi Nyorai is enshrined.
The temple’s name recalls the clear spring Kōbō Daishi is said to have called forth here with a strike of his staff.
This is the Daishi-dō. It was a very quiet hour, and I recited the sutra in an almost meditative calm, praying for safety and for peace in the world.
Such stillness makes the words feel as though they carry further.
A large Buddha statue stands in the precincts, rising up over the grounds.
Taller even than the hall’s roof, it makes an unexpectedly grand sight on the mountainside.
Spring water also flows here from the mountain, and you can feel in it the blessings of nature.
Cool and clear, it is a welcome thing after the climb up.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #54 Goshuin of Kiyotaki-ji（清滝寺） –
This is the goshuin of the thirty-fifth temple, Kiyotaki-ji. Brushed with a fine point, it is so beautiful it looks almost like a painting — a single, wonderful word.
Thirty-four temples still remained on my journey, the mountain spring’s chill still fresh on my hands.
The distance to the next temple was about 13.9 km, a good half-day’s walk ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Kiyotaki-ji (Temple 35)?
The honzon (principal image) of Kiyotaki-ji（清滝寺）, Temple 35 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 Kiyotaki-ji located?
Kiyotaki-ji stands in Tosa, Kōchi Prefecture, in the old province of Tosa, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the thirty-fifth 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 Kiyotaki-ji belong to?
Kiyotaki-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Toyoyama school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Iōzan Kyōchi-in（醫王山 鏡池院）.
When was Kiyotaki-ji founded?
Kiyotaki-ji was founded by Gyōki in 723; restored by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai). Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Kiyotaki-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 36, Shōryū-ji (about 13.9 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Kiyotaki-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.