The seventeenth temple is Ido-ji (井戸寺), whose name means “Temple of the Well,” after a famous well dug here by Kōbō Daishi.
It lies about 18.0 km from the eighteenth temple — a long stretch that marks the end of this closely clustered group of Tokushima temples.
This is the entrance to Ido-ji. The large red gate is striking and rather rare for a temple of this kind, standing out boldly against the surroundings.
It makes for an impressive first sight as you arrive.
This is the main hall, where the Seven Yakushi are enshrined — a central Medicine Buddha attended by six others, a grouping seldom seen even elsewhere in Japan.
It is said to guard against seven kinds of suffering and to grant seven kinds of good fortune, and I recited the sutra here with that in mind.
This is the Daishi-dō. By now it was the end of the day’s walking, and so I gave thanks and prayed that I had been able to pass another day without mishap.
There is a particular gratitude that comes at the close of a day spent on the road.
For dinner that evening I had Tokushima Ramen, the dish the prefecture is famous for. With its unusual, rich flavour — quite unlike any ramen I knew from Tokyo — it was genuinely delicious.
Small pleasures like a good local meal become real highlights of a long pilgrimage.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #72 Goshuin of Ido-ji（井戸寺） –
This is the goshuin of the seventeenth temple, Ido-ji, its characters written with a fine brush — delicate and beautiful.
Sixteen temples still remained on my journey, and a good day’s walking had come to its close.
The distance to the next temple was about 2.9 km, a short hop to the following stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Ido-ji (Temple 17)?
The honzon (principal image) of Ido-ji（井戸寺）, Temple 17 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Seven Yakushi Nyorai（七仏薬師如来）. 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 Ido-ji located?
Ido-ji stands in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, in the old province of Awa, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the seventeenth 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 Ido-ji belong to?
Ido-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Zentsū-ji school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Rurizan Shinpuku-in（瑠璃山 真福院）.
When was Ido-ji founded?
Ido-ji was founded under Emperor Tenmu (7th century); renamed by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai). Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Ido-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 18, Onzan-ji (about 18.0 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Ido-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.