80 Sanuki Kokubun-ji

Sanuki Kokubun-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Takamatsu and holds position 80 on the celebrated Shikoku Pilgrimage, a circuit of 88 temples closely associated with the monk Kūkai, known posthumously as Kōbō Daishi. The temple traces its origins to the 8th century, when Emperor Shōmu ordered the founding of state-sponsored provincial temples — called kokubunji — across Japan. Shingon, an esoteric branch of Buddhism brought to Japan by Kūkai in the early 9th century, shapes the rituals and atmosphere here. Pilgrims completing the full circuit on foot cover more than 1,200 kilometers, traditionally wearing white robes as a mark of purification. Recognized as a site of special historical significance, the grounds preserve remnants of the original Nara-period temple complex.