The Yakushi Nyorai (Medicine Buddha) in the inner sanctuary attracts worshippers

• Name: Hōkai-zan Kōshō-in Dainichi-ji
• Main Deity: Dainichi Nyorai (Cosmic Buddha)
• Goeika (Pilgrimage Song):
• Dainichi-ji illuminates the dew, frost, and sins;
• how could one not direct their steps here?

Access From Temple No. 27, Kōnomine-ji:

• On foot: Go down the steep slope back to the national highway, walk along Route 55 by the coast, and head to No. 28 from downtown Noichi. Approx. 38 km, 11 hours.
• 　
• By Car: Same route as walking. Approx. 38 km, 1 hour 30 minutes.
• 　
• Public Transport: A 1-hour walk from Kōnomine-ji to Tonohama Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway Gomen-Nahari Line. Take the Gomen-Nahari Line for 40 minutes and get off at Noichi Station.

An Ancient Temple Standing on a Gentle Hill

Dainichi-ji is located slightly away from the downtown area of Noichi, surrounded by dense trees, giving it somewhat the atmosphere of a mountain temple. Climbing the stone steps leading to the precincts spread out over a small hill, you will find the Sanmon (main gate) along the way; climbing further, the Main Hall stands directly in front, with the Jizō Hall on the right and the Daishi Hall on the left. The garden of the main priest’s residence features beautiful seasonal flowers, such as Cornelian cherry in early spring and weeping cherry blossoms in March.

The Secret Principal Image

As the temple’s name suggests, the principal image is Dainichi Nyorai. Said to have been crafted by Gyōki, it measures 4 shaku 8 sun 2 bu (approx. 145 cm) in height, making it one of the largest seated statues of Dainichi Nyorai handed down in Shikoku. Both this principal image and the flanking statue of Shō Kannon are designated as National Important Cultural Properties (not open to the public).

The Nail-Carved Yakushi with Blessings for Illnesses Above the Neck

It seems that what gathers faith at this temple is, if anything, the Yakushi Nyorai in the inner sanctuary rather than the principal image. The Yakushi Nyorai of the inner sanctuary is known as “Kōbō Daishi’s Nail-Carved Yakushi.” It is said to be a Yakushi Nyorai carved directly into a large camphor tree by the Daishi using his fingernails, and it was reportedly enshrined as a standing tree until the Meiji era. However, because the camphor tree later fell in a typhoon, the portion of the sacred tree carved with the Nyorai is currently enshrined in a small Yakushi Hall. This Yakushi Nyorai has long been said to be “miraculous for illnesses above the neck,” and is visited by many people suffering from headaches, eye diseases, toothaches, or those worried about a family member who has suffered a stroke. It is said that recently, many people also pray here for relief from hay fever.

The inner sanctuary is about 100 meters in front of the main priest’s residence. Countless pebbles with holes bored into them are dedicated at the small hall. These have been offered in gratitude by people who received blessings. This implies just how widely it is revered by so many people. Beside it, spring water known as the Daishi’s Holy Water flows abundantly, quenching the thirst of pilgrims.

DATA

Address: 476-1 Bodai-ji, Noichi-chō, Kōnan City, Kōchi Prefecture
Phone: 0887-56-0638
Access: 40-minute walk from Noichi Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway
Parking: Available (Free)
Lodging: None

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.