Jūraku-ji: A Temple Named by Kōbō Daishi — Where One Can Attain the “Ten Joys of Peace”

• Name: Komyōzan Renge-in Jūraku-ji
• Main Deity: Amida Nyorai (Amitābha Buddha)
• Goeika (Pilgrimage Song):
• If one quickly frees oneself from the Eight Sufferings of this world,
• One shall reach the realm of the Pure Land, where the Nine Grades of Rebirth and the Ten Joys await.

Access From Temple No. 6 (Anraku-ji):

• On Foot: Follow the old road that runs parallel to the prefectural road. Although it twists and turns, if you keep to the path you will arrive at the gate of Jūraku-ji. About 1.2 km / 20 minutes.
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• By Car: Take Prefectural Route 139 west for about 1.3 km, then follow the sign for Temple No. 7 and make a U-turn to enter a narrow road leading directly to the temple.
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• Public Transport: None available in this section.

Ryūgū-style Gate and Many Stone Statues

At the temple entrance stands a two-story Ryūgū-style gate, its lower level plastered in white and its upper level painted bright vermilion. The upper story houses a large temple bell, making it also serve as a belfry gate. The vivid red color of the structure leaves a strong impression.

Just inside the gate are about seventy stone statues, all representing Mizuko Jizō, guardian of unborn and deceased children.

It is rare among the Shikoku temples to see so many of these statues gathered together. The soft clatter of the pinwheels placed before them turns gently in the wind, creating a poignant, almost sorrowful sound that touches the heart.

A Flower Temple with Green Hills Behind

Beyond the gate stands Henjō-den Hall, which serves both as the Aizen-dō (Hall of Aizen Myōō) and as a Goma Hall for Buddhist fire rituals. A stairway leads to the second floor, where an altar enshrines Aizen Myōō, the deity of passion transformed into compassion. Aizen Myōō is believed to bring blessings for good relationships and marriage ties, and pilgrims may also receive Enmusubi Sange (paper flower charms for love and connection).

Proceeding further, you will find the Main Hall, a stately wooden building. To the left of the Main Hall stands the Chigan-shimoku-sai Jizō, a Jizō Bodhisattva believed to cure eye diseases and grant healing blessings. The Daishi Hall, dedicated to Kōbō Daishi, is located on a hill above the Main Hall, reached by a flight of stone steps.

The temple grounds are beautifully adorned with cherry blossoms in spring and wisteria in early summer, offering pilgrims a place to rest and enjoy the seasonal beauty of nature.

Escape from the Eight Sufferings, and Attain the Ten Joys

The name “Jūraku-ji” (“Temple of Ten Joys”) was bestowed by Kōbō Daishi himself.
It embodies his wish that people might free themselves from the Eight Sufferings (Shiku Hakku) of human life and attain the Ten Joys of Peace in the Pure Land. The Eight Sufferings refer to the pains of birth, aging, illness, and death, as well as the mental sufferings of being separated from loved ones, being forced to meet those we dislike, desiring what cannot be obtained, and the troubles arising from the working of body and mind. By being liberated from all these sufferings, one may be guided to the Pure Land of Bliss through the compassion of Amida Nyorai, the temple’s principal deity. Thus the name “Jūraku-ji” represents the ideal of transcending human suffering and attaining spiritual peace.

DATA

Address: 58 Hōkyōden, Takao, Donari-chō, Awa City, Tokushima Prefecture
Phone: 088-695-2150
Access: From JR Tokushima Station, take the Tokushima Bus bound for Kajiyabara and get off at Kajiyabara. About 25 minutes on foot from the bus stop.
Parking: Available (Free)
Lodging: Within the precincts stands Business Hotel Kōmyōkan, which can accommodate about 50 guests.
All rooms are equipped with a private bath, toilet, LCD television, and refrigerator. Amenities are provided, and coin laundry and drink vending machines are available. Guests can also join the morning service held from 6:30 to 7:00 a.m. (participation optional). For more information, please visit the official Jūraku-ji website (Japanese only). Reservations can also be made online.

Your Pilgrimage, Your Art

Completing the Shikoku Pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime journey—but what if you could preserve it in a form that lasts forever?

Many pilgrims collect red stamps and calligraphy from each temple on a special silk scroll called a nōkyōjiku.

This sacred record of your path can be transformed into a kakejiku—a traditional Japanese hanging scroll—not only preserving the memories, but turning them into a work of cultural and spiritual art.

It’s more than a souvenir—it’s a way to honor your journey, your prayers, and your growth.

To learn more about how a nōkyōjiku becomes a kakejiku, and what makes this transformation so meaningful, please refer the below link.