KagawaTravel

Morning Prayers at the Birthplace of Kobo Daishi, Finding Inner Peace Through the Kaidanmeguri

About this spot

The head temple of the Shingon Zentsūji school, founded on the birthplace of the Great Teacher Kobo Daishi Kūkai, this is the 75th temple in the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Temple pilgrimage circuit. It is counted among the three great pilgrimage sites of the Great Teacher, alongside Tōji (東寺) in Kyoto and Kōyasan (高野山) in Wakayama. The vast grounds consist of the Eastern Temple (East Wing) with its Golden Hall and five-story pagoda, and the Western Temple (West Wing) centered on the Mieido Hall. Even a simple walk through the grounds in the clear morning air brings peace to the mind. The kaidanmeguri—walking through the pitch-dark underground corridor beneath the Mieido Hall—is a special experience of quiet self-reflection. The large camphor trees standing in the grounds are said to have watched over this place since Kūkai's childhood, evoking a sense of the flow of eternal time.

Tips

Multiple paid parking lots are available around the grounds. For the kaidanmeguri, you progress through the pitch-dark underground corridor with your left hand trailing along the wall, so follow the attendant's guidance and proceed slowly. The grounds are extensive with both the Eastern and Western temples, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.