The crane is considered a symbol of longevity and good fortune and its appearance is considered an auspicious sign. Emperor Kammu gave the temple the title of Imperial Office Temple (Chokugansho).

This temple is unique in Tokushima Prefecture in having escaped the ravages of fire over the years. The temple is located on a mountain at 550 meters (1,800 feet) and is one of the pilgrimage's six major Nansho.

Starr notes that the statue next to the honzon is that of Minamoto Yoritomo on a horse.

The climb to Temples 20 and 21 was, without a doubt, the hardest on the entire trip for me. At that time i had blisters on both feet, had managed to catch a terrible cold, and was, in general, feeling pretty darn bad. In addition, it is a long, steep climb up the trail from Temple 19 to 20, and to get to Temple 21 you have to drop all the way back down into the next valley and reclimb another trail straight up to the top of the next mountain. I was absolutely exhausted as i sat there at 21 wondering how i was going to find the strength to walk back down the mountain and to my minshuku that night.