The third temple is Konsen-ji (金泉寺), the “Temple of the Golden Spring,” dedicated to Shaka Nyorai. Its name comes from a famous well in the grounds, tied to an old legend of Kōbō Daishi.
The temple stands about 4.9 km from the fourth temple, one of the longer legs in this early part of the route, so I arrived glad of the chance to rest.
This is the entrance to Konsen-ji. The striking red-and-white gate is genuinely impressive, larger and bolder than you might expect for a temple of this size.
Tall Kongō Rikishi guardian statues stand to the left and right, their muscular forms seeming to watch over every pilgrim who passes between them.
This is the main hall, where Shaka Nyorai is enshrined. I offered incense and recited the sutra before the altar, as I had at every temple along the way.
The hall has the worn, settled atmosphere of a place that has received pilgrims for many centuries, and that sense of continuity is part of what makes it moving.
The weather was fine, and I recited the Heart Sutra alongside other pilgrims who had arrived at the same time, our voices overlapping in the open air.
We were strangers to one another, yet praying together for the happiness of all people gave the moment an unexpected sense of fellowship.
I then moved to the Daishi-dō to chant the Heart Sutra once more before the statue of Kōbō Daishi, completing the pair of prayers offered at every temple.
Repeating the same two stops at hall after hall gives the day a steady, grounding shape.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #86 Goshuin of Konsen-ji（金泉寺） –
This is the goshuin of the third temple, Konsen-ji, its characters brushed with a practised, assured hand.
Only two temples now remained, and the end of the journey felt suddenly, almost startlingly close.
The distance to the next temple was about 2.5 km, an easy stretch through the quiet of Itano.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Konsen-ji (Temple 3)?
The honzon (principal image) of Konsen-ji（金泉寺）, Temple 3 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Shaka Nyorai（釈迦如来）. 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 Konsen-ji located?
Konsen-ji stands in Itano, Tokushima Prefecture, in the old province of Awa, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the third 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 Konsen-ji belong to?
Konsen-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 Kikōzan Shaka-in（亀光山 釈迦院）.
When was Konsen-ji founded?
Konsen-ji was founded by Gyōki; renamed by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai) in the early 9th century. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Konsen-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 4, Dainichi-ji (about 4.9 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Konsen-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.