Hotsumisakiji

Hotsumisakiji (最御崎寺) is the 24th temple of the Shikoku Pilgrimage in Japan. It is the first temple in Kochi Prefecture. It is located at the southeastern tip of the island of Shikoku and at the southern tip of the Muroto Peninsula, overlooking Muroto Cape and the Pacific Ocean. The previous temple, Temple 23 Yakuoji (薬王寺), is over 70 kilometers (44 miles) away, which would take about 2-5 days to reach on foot. It is a great stretch for pilgrims to enjoy the views of of lush mountains to the right and the vast ocean to the left.

Kukai (空海), the Buddhist monk whom the Shikoku Pilgrimage is based on, came to Muroto Cape at the age of 19 in 792. He chanted the mantra of the Bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha while training at the Mikuroto Cave and several other caves nearby. At the orders of Emperor Saga, Kukai built Hotsumisakiji in 807 (the 2nd year of Daido) and engraved its main deity Kokūzō Bosatsu. During the Kantoku Period (1044-1055), the temple was relocated from a summit to its current location next to the ocean.

The temples grounds are not particularly large compared to the vast nature around it. There is a bell tower, a small pagoda, and behind the main hall, a “musical stone”. This large stone has smaller impressions carved into it, which individually contain smaller stones. Each of these smaller stones makes a unique sound when you knock them against the larger stone. To get a great view of the rocky cape and the Pacific Ocean, the Muroto Cape Lighthouse is just a short walk away from Hotsumisakiji.