The thirteenth temple is Dainichi-ji (大日寺), which stands in the Ichinomiya district of Tokushima and enshrines an Eleven-Headed Kannon.
It lies about 2.3 km from the fourteenth temple, an easy walk through the edge of the city.
This is the entrance to Dainichi-ji. The gate itself is small, but the temple’s name, carved into the stone pillars and picked out in gold, makes a wonderful impression as you arrive.
It is a quiet, understated welcome that suits the modest scale of the grounds.
This is the main hall, where the Eleven-Headed Kannon is enshrined. The hall is old, and it carries a pleasant, well-worn atmosphere that comes only with age.
I offered incense and recited the sutra here, as at every temple along the way.
Next, at the Daishi-dō, I recited the Heart Sutra before the statue of Kōbō Daishi. I found myself wondering what the other worshippers around me were praying for.
For my part I simply, almost childishly, wished that everything might somehow turn out for the better.
A vividly coloured Kannon image is also enshrined here, said to grant the wishes of those who pray before it, and its bright colours alone are enough to lift the spirits.
I paused there a while before moving on.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #76 Goshuin of Dainichi-ji（大日寺） –
This is the goshuin of the thirteenth temple, Dainichi-ji, pressed into the page in the quiet of Ichinomiya.
Twelve temples still remained on my journey, the road now leading deeper into Tokushima.
The distance to the next temple was about 25.3 km — a long day’s walk lay ahead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Dainichi-ji (Temple 13)?
The honzon (principal image) of Dainichi-ji（大日寺）, Temple 13 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Jūichimen Kanzeon Bosatsu（十一面観世音菩薩）. 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 Dainichi-ji located?
Dainichi-ji stands in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, in the old province of Awa, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the thirteenth 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 Dainichi-ji belong to?
Dainichi-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 Ōkurizan（大栗山）.
When was Dainichi-ji founded?
Dainichi-ji was founded by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai), early 9th century. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Dainichi-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 14, Jōraku-ji (about 2.3 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Dainichi-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.