Nagao-ji (長尾寺)

Nagao-ji is the eighty-seventh of the eighty-eight Shikoku temples — the second-to-last, set in the open Nagao district of Sanuki under an enormous camphor canopy. Founded in 739 by Gyōki and used by Kūkai for prayers before his voyage to Tang China, it now operates as a Tendai temple, converted from Shingon in 1681. Pilgrims often pause here to gather their intentions before the long climb to Ōkubo-ji.

Nagao-ji is the temple where the journey starts to end. Pilgrims arrive with eighty-six temples behind them and one peak ahead. The atmosphere is unhurried. The Niō Gate sits beneath a great camphor tree; the courtyard is wide and unfussy; the precinct is open to a small Sanuki town. Many pilgrims describe an emotional softening here that they did not anticipate.

The temple's founding tradition is older than Kūkai. In 739, the monk Gyōki saw a luminous willow tree in a dream, carved an image of Shō Kannon from the wood, and founded the temple. Kūkai is said to have performed prayers at this site before sailing for Tang China in the early ninth century — a foundational pilgrim association that continues to anchor the Daishi-dō rite. The Niō Gate dates from 1670. After centuries as a Shingon temple, Nagao-ji was converted to Tendai in 1681–1683 under Takamatsu domain lord Matsudaira Yoritsune as part of his designation of the seven Sanuki Kannon temples; it has remained Tendai since.

The local rhythm of the temple is also worth noticing. Nagao-ji is famous in Sanuki for its January Daihannya-e and the Fukugaki-no-Gyōji, the 'Lucky-Stick Ritual', when pilgrims and locals draw long bamboo poles to receive blessings for the year. The temple is woven into rice-cycle and New Year ritual life in a way that is less marked at the route's mountain temples. Monks sometimes offer biscuits and tea — osettai — to passing henro. The wide, almost agricultural feel of the courtyard, the great camphor, and the consciousness of one peak still to climb give the visit its distinctive register: not a destination, but a threshold.

Part of Shikoku Pilgrimage.

Founding traditionally dated to 739, when the monk Gyōki dreamt of a luminous willow tree, carved an image of Shō Kannon from the wood, and founded the temple. Kūkai is said to have performed prayers here prior to his voyage to Tang China in the early ninth century. The temple was rebuilt by the Ikoma clan during the Keichō era (1596–1615) and renamed Nagao Kannon-ji. The Niō Gate was built in 1670. In 1681–1683, Matsudaira Yoritsune converted the temple from Shingon to Tendai, designated it one of the seven Sanuki Kannon temples, and donated a pagoda.

Tendai Buddhism (Sanmon school) since 1681–83. Foundational Shingon tradition retained at the practitioner level through Daishi-dō practice and the Shikoku 88 framework.

The thinness at Nagao-ji is in its openness. After many ridge and mountain temples, the wide courtyard and the great camphor surprise. The Niō Gate of 1670 is unusual for using three wooden ridge poles, an architectural curiosity that pilgrims sometimes notice. The Daishi-dō still draws the Kōbō Daishi mantra, even under the temple's Tendai affiliation. Pilgrims often describe sitting in the courtyard for longer than they had planned. The temple is the second-to-last; its rhythm is one of gathering and pause before the long climb to Ōkubo-ji.

Originally a Shingon temple founded by Gyōki in 739 around the carving of a Shō Kannon from a willow tree seen in a dream. Used by Kūkai for prayers before his voyage to Tang China.

Rebuilt by the Ikoma clan during the Keichō era (1596–1615) and renamed Nagao Kannon-ji. The Niō Gate was built in 1670. In 1681–1683, Matsudaira Yoritsune converted the temple from Shingon to Tendai as part of the seven Sanuki Kannon designation, donating a pagoda. The temple has remained Tendai since while continuing as a Shikoku 88 stop.

Pilgrims follow the standard henro rite. After bowing at the gate and purifying at the chōzuya, a candle is lit and three sticks of incense placed at the Main Hall. An osamefuda nameslip is deposited, the Heart Sutra recited, and the Shō Kannon mantra (On arorikya sowaka) sounded. The same rite is repeated at the Daishi-dō, ending with the Kōbō Daishi mantra. The nōkyō calligraphy stamp is collected at the temple office.

Daily Tendai services in the Lotus Sutra-centred mode continue. The Daihannya-e and Fukugaki-no-Gyōji ('Lucky-Stick Ritual') in January draw strong local participation. Ongoing osettai of biscuits and tea is offered to passing henro by the temple and by local people.

Sit for a while in the courtyard before chanting. The temple invites pause more than activity. Pilgrims often use the visit to gather intentions for the final climb to Ōkubo-ji, sometimes writing a final osamefuda or revisiting the names of those they have walked for. If visiting in early January, the Fukugaki ritual is a striking encounter with local Sanuki religious life.

Pilgrims reach Nagao-ji easily. The Kotoden Nagao Line runs to Nagao Station, a five-minute walk to the temple. By car, the drive from central Takamatsu takes around forty minutes. The pilgrim foot path from Shido-ji is approximately 7 km along quiet country roads.

The Niō Gate is what most pilgrims first notice — set under an enormous camphor tree and unusual for its three wooden ridge poles. Beyond it the courtyard opens wide and unfussy. The Main Hall and Daishi-dō stand at the back of the compound. Standard henro practice is followed at both halls: a bow at the gate, hands and mouth purified at the chōzuya, candle and three sticks of incense lit, an osamefuda nameslip dropped, the Heart Sutra recited, and the Shō Kannon mantra (On arorikya sowaka) sounded. The Kōbō Daishi mantra closes the rite at the Daishi-dō. The chant style is Tendai, but the henro rite is the same as at Shingon temples, and the Daishi-dō remains the focal point of pilgrim devotion.

Monks sometimes offer biscuits and tea — osettai — at a small reception point. The nōkyō stamp is collected at the temple office. Many pilgrims linger in the courtyard. The awareness that only Ōkubo-ji remains, and that the climb is still 16 km ahead, slows the exit.

The Niō Gate fronts the south side, beneath the great camphor tree. The wide courtyard runs north to the Main Hall and Daishi-dō. The 1681 pagoda donated by Matsudaira Yoritsune stands within the compound.

Nagao-ji is read as a clear example of how Edo-period domain politics reshaped temple sectarian affiliation, and as the gathering threshold before the final temple.

Nagao-ji is a clear example of how Edo-period domain politics reshaped temple sectarian affiliation: a Shingon temple absorbed into the Tendai network for political-administrative reasons under Takamatsu domain reform, while retaining its identity as a Shikoku 88 stop.

Local Sanuki tradition treats Nagao-ji as a community temple woven into rice-cycle and New Year ritual life. The Fukugaki ritual is a folk-religious survival within Buddhist precincts.

Despite the formal Tendai affiliation, the pilgrimage logic remains Shingon at the practitioner level: the Daishi-dō and the Kōbō Daishi mantra anchor the Shingon framework. Nagao-ji thus stands as a small living example of Tendai-Shingon ecumenism.

Documentary evidence for Kūkai's pre-China rituals at this exact site is traditional rather than archival. Gyōki's willow-dream story is engi literature.

Kotoden Nagao Line to Nagao Station, then a 5-minute walk. By car, roughly 40 minutes from JR Takamatsu Station. The pilgrim foot path from Shido-ji (T86) is approximately 7 km along quiet country roads.

Available in the Nagao district and in central Takamatsu. There is no shukubō at Nagao-ji. Pilgrims walking on to Ōkubo-ji often plan an overnight stay near the Maeyama Dam interpretive centre.

Standard Shikoku 88 etiquette in a town-edge Tendai temple.

Modest dress. Pilgrim attire is common.

Permitted in the grounds. No flash inside the halls.

Incense, candles, coins, osamefuda. Nōkyō fee ¥500/book.

Do not climb on the Niō Gate or its supporting pillars. Treat the great camphor with respect.

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.

Shido-ji (志度寺)

Sanuki, Sanuki, Kagawa, Japan

6.4 km away

Ōkubo-ji (大窪寺)

Sanuki, Sanuki, Kagawa, Japan

9.0 km away

Yakuriji Temple, Yakuri

Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan

10.8 km away

Yakuri-ji (八栗寺)

Takamatsu, Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan

10.8 km away

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

1. 01Nagao-ji — Wikipediahigh-reliability
2. 02The 87th Temple Nagaoji Temple — Sanuki History & Culture Guidehigh-reliability
3. 03Temple 87, Nagao-ji — Shikoku Tourshigh-reliability
4. 04Nagaoji – Sanuki, Kagawa Prefecture — Henro.orghigh-reliability
5. 05Customs and Etiquette of the Shikoku Pilgrimage — Henro.orghigh-reliability
6. 06Nagao-ji, the 87th Temple of the Shikoku Pilgrimage — Setouchi Explorer