45 Iwaya-ji

Iwaya-ji is the 45th temple of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, Japan's celebrated 88-temple circuit associated with the monk Kōbō Daishi. Perched at 700 metres against a sheer rock face in the Kumakōgen highlands of Ehime Prefecture, it ranks among the most dramatically sited stops on the entire route. According to tradition, Kōbō Daishi consecrated the temple in 815 CE, and it remains affiliated with the Buzan branch of Shingon Buddhism today. The ascent involves chains bolted into bare rock and narrow wooden walkways clinging to the cliff — widely considered the most physically demanding stretch of the pilgrimage. The remote setting and the contrast between ancient timber halls and raw stone give the place an atmosphere that stays with visitors long after the descent.