Ryozenji Temple

Ryozenji marks the first temple of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage, the roughly 1,200-kilometer circular route associated with the monk Kobo Daishi. White-clad pilgrims gather here before setting off, picking up the tools of the henro: the sedge hat, white vest, and wooden walking staff. Those completing the full circuit return here as their final stop, closing the loop. The temple grounds include a wooden gate, a pond with a two-story pagoda, and a stamp office where pilgrims collect the first seal in their nokyocho booklet. Even for visitors not walking the route, watching pilgrims depart and arrive makes for a meaningful introduction to Japan's living pilgrimage tradition.