08 Kumadani-ji

Kumadani-ji is the eighth temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, Japan's most celebrated Buddhist circuit of 88 temples ringing the island of Shikoku. The temple belongs to the Shingon school of esoteric Buddhism, the tradition founded by the monk Kūkai in the 9th century whose spirit is said to accompany every pilgrim on the route. The name Kumadani — roughly 'bear valley' — reflects its setting deep in the forested hills of Tokushima Prefecture. Pilgrims in traditional white robes and sedge hats pass through early in their journey, which can take 30 to 60 days on foot in full. The cedar-enclosed grounds carry a contemplative stillness that sets it apart from more tourist-accessible temples in the region.