Shikoku Pilgrimage Temple: No. 30 Tōmyō-in Zenraku-ji

No. 30 Tōmyō-in Zenraku-ji

Retaining the vestiges of the Bettō-ji of Tosa Ichinomiya

  • Name: Dodo-zan Tōmyō-in Zenraku-ji
  • Principal Image: Amida Nyorai
  • Goeika (Pilgrimage Song):
  • Many people gather at the Ichinomiya; it prospers now as it did in the past.

Access From Temple No. 29, Kokubun-ji

  • On foot: Follow the peaceful path along the Kokubu River, then move from the mountain road to Prefectural Route 384. Head toward the densely wooded forest of Tosa Shrine as a landmark. The temple is next to the shrine. Approx. 8 km, 2 hours 20 minutes.
  • 　
  • By Car: Use Prefectural Route 384. Approx. 8 km, 15 minutes.
  • 　
  • Public Transport: From the Kokubun-ji dōri bus stop, take the Tosaden Kōtsū Bus bound for Kōchi City for 12 minutes, and get off at Ichinomiya Jinja-mae.

The Jūichimen Kannon Welcoming Pilgrims

Entering the precincts of Zenraku-ji, the first thing that catches your eye is a giant statue of the Eleven-Faced Kannon. It has a unique appearance, holding a shakujō (pewter staff), which is originally an attribute of Jizō Bosatsu, in its right hand, and a water pitcher in its left. Called a Hase-dera-style Kannon, it is said to be modeled after the principal image of Hase-dera in Nara.

Proceeding further from the Kannon statue, the Daishi Hall and the Main Hall stand side by side on the left. The Main Hall was built in 1983 (Shōwa 58), and the golden statue of Amida Nyorai illuminated in the dimly lit hall is striking.

Underneath the plum tree opposite the Main Hall is the Umemi Jizō. It is said to be miraculous for illnesses above the neck, such as those affecting the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and brain. There is also a Koyasu Jizō Hall within the grounds.

A Renowned Temple Tossed About by History

When heading toward Zenraku-ji, what catches your eye from quite a distance is a thick grove of trees. The forest belongs to Tosa Shrine, which is the Tosa Ichinomiya. Zenraku-ji shares its borders with the shrine. As this positional relationship suggests, Zenraku-ji has a long history as the bettō of Tosa Ichinomiya. Before the Edo period, Jingū-ji, which was located at the current Tosa Shrine, was the official pilgrimage temple, and this temple served as the nōkyōjo.

However, due to the Haibutsu Kishaku movement in the Meiji period, Jingū-ji was abolished, and its principal images of Amida Nyorai and Kōbō Daishi were entrusted to Temple No. 29, Kokubun-ji. Later, only the Amida Nyorai statue was moved to Anraku-ji, located west of Kōchi Station, and Anraku-ji became the new Temple No. 30. Meanwhile, in 1934 (Shōwa 9), the Daishi statue entrusted to Kokubun-ji was returned, and Zenraku-ji was restored. Because Zenraku-ji was originally the nōkyōjo for Temple No. 30, a situation arose where two Temples No. 30 existed: Anraku-ji and Zenraku-ji. This situation continued for a long time, but it was finally settled in 1994 (Heisei 6) with Zenraku-ji becoming Temple No. 30 and Anraku-ji becoming the inner sanctuary (Oku-no-in) of Temple No. 30, which remains the case today.

DATA

Address: 2-23-11 Ikku-shinane, Kōchi City, Kōchi Prefecture
Phone: 088-846-4141
Access: 20-minute walk from Tosa-Ikku Station on the JR Dosan Line
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.


Your Shikoku Pilgrimage, Your Art: Make Your Journey a Kakejiku, Japanese Traditional Scroll Art – ART NOMURA
What is the Shikoku Pilgrimage? Shikoku’s 88-Temple Pilgrimage (Shikoku Hachijūhakkasho Henro) is a sacred rou … Continue reading Your Shikoku Pilgrimage, Your Art: Make Your Journey a Kakejiku, Japanese Traditional Scroll Art →
 

 

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    Our Feelings For Kakejiku

     The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
    peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
    culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
    so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
    However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
    through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
    religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
    countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
    understandably is a “kakejiku.”
     The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
    alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
    express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
    aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
    ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
    Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
     The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
    in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
    decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
    Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
    love kakejiku someday.

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    Company Profile
    syaoku.jpg(120220 byte)

    Name Art Nomura

    President Tatsuji Nomura

    Founded1973

    Established1992

    Address7-23 Babadori, Tarumi-ku, Kobe city,
    Hyougo Prefecture, 655-0021, Japan


    Capital10 million yen

    URLhttp://nomurakakejiku.com

    Our Business

     Art Nomura is an art dealer which produces kakejiku (hanging scrolls). We mount many paintings and calligraphic works in kakejiku in my factory. Kakejiku are our main product. We also remount and repair old or damaged kakejiku. We share the traditional Japanese art of kakejiku with people all over the world.


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    Access Map

    Access Map

     The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the
    peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese
    culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently,
    so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.
    However, the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured
    through a long history, intertwining various elements intricately, such as climate, geographical features,
    religion, customs and so on. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other
    countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses
    understandably is a “kakejiku.”
     The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an
    alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It's no exaggeration to say that paintings are what
    express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese
    aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since
    ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the
    Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.
     The kakejiku is a cultural tradition which the Japanese people should be proud of. However, many people
    in other countries don't know much about it because it hasn't been showcased as much. This is why I
    decided to try to introduce it. The kakejiku world is very interesting and beautiful. We want not only the
    Japanese, but also many people from other countries to know and enjoy it. I hope that many people will
    love kakejiku someday.

    (or press ESC or click the overlay)