The sixteenth temple is Kannon-ji (観音寺), dedicated to Senju Kannon, the thousand-armed Kannon of compassion.
It stands about 2.9 km from the seventeenth temple, tucked among the streets of Tokushima.
This is the entrance to Kannon-ji. It is a modest, town-side temple, easy to walk straight past if you are not watching for it.
The quiet setting belies the long history held within the grounds.
Stone pillars stand ranged around the gate, lending it real presence and emphasis — a fine, dignified entrance for a temple of this size.
They frame the way in and quietly mark the threshold between the street and the sacred ground.
This is the main hall, where Senju Kannon is enshrined. It is small, but genuinely beautiful, with a calm that rewards a slower visit.
Tradition says Kōbō Daishi carved the image here, setting Fudō Myōō and Bishamonten to either side of it.
Next, at the Daishi-dō, I recited the Heart Sutra before the statue of Kōbō Daishi. Chanting in the cool of the early morning felt wonderful.
In that stillness I could wish, with a full and sincere heart, for the safety of my family and for peace in the world.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #73 Goshuin of Kannon-ji（観音寺） –
This is the goshuin of the sixteenth temple, Kannon-ji, received in its small but beautiful grounds.
Fifteen temples still remained on my journey, the rhythm of walking now second nature.
The distance to the next temple was about 1.7 km, an easy walk through the streets of Tokushima.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Kannon-ji (Temple 16)?
The honzon (principal image) of Kannon-ji（観音寺）, Temple 16 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Senju Kanzeon Bosatsu（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 Kannon-ji located?
Kannon-ji stands in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, in the old province of Awa, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the sixteenth 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 Kannon-ji belong to?
Kannon-ji belongs to the Kōyasan school of Shingon Buddhism. Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Kōyōzan Senju-in（光耀山 千手院）.
When was Kannon-ji founded?
Kannon-ji was rebuilt by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai) in 816. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Kannon-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 17, Ido-ji (about 2.9 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Kannon-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.