Gōshō-ji (郷照寺)

Temple 78 Gōshō-ji rises above the old port of Utazu on a hill overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. It is the only Shikoku 88 temple holding a dual sectarian identity — Shingon and Ji-shū (Time Sect, Pure Land) — through visits by three distinct figures: Gyōki in 725, Kūkai in 807, and Ippen Shōnin in 1288. Locally it is the Yakuyoke Utazu Daishi, where evil-warding prayers are offered.

Gōshō-ji is the seventy-eighth Shikoku temple and one of the most layered sites on the route. It stands on a hill above the old Utazu port, the Seto Ohashi (Great Seto Bridge) visible in the distance, and holds within its precinct the trace of three distinct foundational visits across more than five centuries.

The first visit was Gyōki's, in 725. Gyōki (668–749), the Nara-period itinerant monk who travelled the country promoting Buddhist works among ordinary people, carved a fifty-five-centimetre Amida Nyorai as the temple's honzon and named the site Bukkozan Dōjō-ji. The second visit was Kūkai's, in 807. He is said to have carved a self-portrait statue and made a vow against evil spirits — the origin of the Yakuyoke Utazu Daishi cult that continues today, particularly during the inauspicious year-ages (yakudoshi: thirty-three for women, forty-two for men). The third visit was Ippen Shōnin's, in 1288. Ippen (1239–1289), founder of the Ji-shū (Time Sect) branch of Pure Land Buddhism, stayed at the temple and propagated nenbutsu odori (the dancing nenbutsu) and fusan (the distribution of nembutsu slips). The Ji-shū lineage has been preserved here ever since, making Gōshō-ji the only Ji-shū-affiliated temple among the Shikoku 88 — a dual-sect identity unique on the route.

In 1664 the temple was rebuilt by Matsudaira Yorishige, lord of Takamatsu Domain, who renamed it Gōshō-ji to avoid confusion with nearby Dōryū-ji. The hill site preserves both the airy, sea-facing atmosphere of the precinct and the distinct character of each lineage layer. Pilgrims chant the Heart Sutra at the Daishi-dō, the nenbutsu (Namu Amida Butsu) at the Amida hall — a doubled practice many henro find unusual. The visit takes thirty to forty-five minutes.

Part of Shikoku Pilgrimage.

Gyōki carved a fifty-five-centimetre Amida Nyorai as the founding image in 725, naming the temple Bukkozan Dōjō-ji. Kūkai visited in 807, carved a self-image, and made a vow against evil spirits — the origin of the Yakuyoke Daishi cult. Ippen Shōnin stayed in 1288 and introduced the Ji-shū lineage with its dancing nenbutsu and nenbutsu slips. Each visit added a layer without displacing the prior one. The Matsudaira lord rebuilt the temple in 1664 and renamed it Gōshō-ji.

Dual sectarian identity — Shingon Buddhism (Shikoku Henro liturgy and Yakuyoke Daishi cult) and Ji-shū (Time Sect, Pure Land Buddhism). The only Ji-shū-affiliated temple among the Shikoku 88.

What gives Gōshō-ji its distinct atmosphere is the way the three founding visits accumulate rather than overwrite. Gyōki's Amida remains the honzon. Kūkai's self-image remains the focus of the Yakuyoke Daishi cult. Ippen's nenbutsu odori remains the tradition expressed in the Pure Land elements. The hill site, looking out over the old Utazu port — historically a place where pilgrims, ferrymen, merchants, and ascetics all converged — works as a physical analogue of this stacking. The thinness here is the absence of compression: tantric self-power and Pure Land other-power, eighth-century state-Buddhism and thirteenth-century itinerant nenbutsu, all rest in one small precinct without forcing reconciliation. Pilgrims often describe the dual liturgy — Heart Sutra at the Daishi-dō, then Namu Amida Butsu at the Amida hall — as a small but real opening.

Founded by Gyōki in 725 as Bukkozan Dōjō-ji, anchored on a fifty-five-centimetre Amida Nyorai he carved during his nationwide travels promoting Buddhist works for ordinary people.

Visited and re-consecrated by Kūkai in 807 with the Yakuyoke Daishi self-image; visited by Ippen in 1288 who introduced the Ji-shū lineage. Rebuilt in 1664 by the Matsudaira lord of Takamatsu and renamed Gōshō-ji. Operates today as a dual-sect (Shingon and Ji-shū) Shikoku 88 temple.

At the main hall (Amida-dō): bell, candle, three incense sticks, osamefuda, coin, Heart Sutra. Repeat at the Daishi-dō. Add nenbutsu (Namu Amida Butsu) at the Amida hall to honour the Pure Land lineage. Yakuyoke prayers at the Yakuyoke Daishi hall, particularly during yakudoshi years.

Daily worship and pilgrim reception. Periodic yakuyoke ceremonies. The Yakuyoke Daishi is the focus of New Year and seasonal devotions for those entering inauspicious year-ages.

Plan thirty to forty-five minutes. Try the dual liturgy — Heart Sutra and nenbutsu — at the appropriate halls. If entering a yakudoshi year, add a yakuyoke offering. Take time at the precinct edge to look out over the Seto Inland Sea.

Gōshō-ji is reached from JR Utazu Station with a short walk through the old port town and a modest climb up the hill. The approach narrows then opens into a precinct with broad sea views; the Seto Ohashi (Great Seto Bridge) is visible across the water on clear days. The main hall (Amida-dō) sits at the centre of the precinct; the Daishi-dō and the Yakuyoke Daishi hall stand to one side.

The liturgy here is doubled in a way unusual on the Shikoku route. Pilgrims complete the standard Heart Sutra recitation at the main hall and Daishi-dō. Many also chant the nenbutsu (Namu Amida Butsu) at the Amida hall, following the Pure Land thread of the temple's identity. Pilgrims travelling around the inauspicious year-ages — thirty-three for women, forty-two for men — often add a yakuyoke prayer at the Yakuyoke Daishi hall, requesting protection through the year. The mix of Shingon liturgy, Pure Land chanting, and yakuyoke devotion produces an atmosphere distinct from the more uniformly Shingon character of the surrounding temples. Many henro linger longer than the typical thirty minutes simply to take in the sea breeze and the doubled rhythm of the visit.

Walk up from Utazu town to the hill precinct. Complete liturgy at the main hall (Amida-dō) and the Daishi-dō. Add a yakuyoke offering at the Yakuyoke Daishi hall if relevant; chant the nenbutsu at the Amida hall to honour the Ji-shū layer.

Gōshō-ji's three-layered history invites readings that range from documentary to ecumenical to mystical; each captures part of the site without exhausting it.

Gyōki's role as founder of many regional temples is well attested in Nara-period sources, though specific attributions are sometimes legendary. Ippen's 1288 visit is documented in Ji-shū chronicles. The sectarian doubling reflects the historical reality of medieval Japanese Buddhism rather than later overlay.

Local devotion focuses on the Yakuyoke Daishi — Kūkai's image as evil-warder. The Ji-shū element is honoured but quieter today. The Amida Nyorai of Gyōki remains the formal honzon and is treated with continuing reverence.

Some practitioners read Gōshō-ji as a 'gateway temple' between two soteriologies — esoteric self-power (jiriki) and Pure Land other-power (tariki) — held in productive tension. The hilltop site, looking out over a once-busy port, is read as a physical analogue of meeting and crossing.

Whether Gyōki personally founded the temple or whether the attribution is later legend (a common pattern with Gyōki sites) cannot be settled from the available record.

Utazu, Kagawa. Close to JR Utazu Station; modest hill climb from the town. Small car park on site.

Pilgrim minshuku and small hotels in Utazu and nearby Sakaide.

Standard pilgrimage etiquette; respect for active yakuyoke ceremonies and the Ji-shū tradition.

Modest dress. Pilgrim hakui welcomed but not required.

Permitted in the outdoor precinct. Ask before photographing inside the halls. Avoid photographing private yakuyoke ceremonies.

Osamefuda at the main hall (Amida-dō) and Daishi-dō. Nenbutsu slips at the Ji-shū hall when offered. Coin offerings throughout.

Avoid loud conversation. Respect any active services, particularly yakuyoke ceremonies during the early-year peak.

Continue through the atlas by country, tradition, site type, or a focused search that combines this place’s strongest context.

Sacred places within a half-day’s reach. Pilgrims often visit them together: walk one, stay for the other.

Tennō-ji (天皇寺)

Sakaide, Sakaide, Kagawa, Japan

5.4 km away

Dōryū-ji (道隆寺)

Tadotsu, Tadotsu, Kagawa, Japan

6.6 km away

Konzō-ji (金倉寺)

Zentsūji, Zentsūji, Kagawa, Japan

7.5 km away

Kōyama-ji (甲山寺)

Zentsūji, Zentsūji, Kagawa, Japan

9.8 km away

Sources consulted when researching this page. Independent verification by readers is welcome.

1. 01Bukkozan Kotokuin Goshoji – Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage — Shikoku 88 Temple Reijokaihigh-reliability
2. 02The 78th Temple Goshoji Temple — Sanuki History & Culture Guidehigh-reliability
3. 03Goshoji – Utazu, Kagawa Prefecture — Henro.orghigh-reliability
4. 04Customs and Etiquette of the Shikoku Pilgrimage — Henro.orghigh-reliability
5. 05Goshoji Temple, Temple No. 78 — Shikoku Pilgrimage News
6. 06The Goshoji temple and the Yakuyoke Utazu Daishi — Life Takamatsu
7. 07Ippen — Wikipedia contributors