37th Sacred Site Iwamotoji Temple (37番札所 岩本寺)

Flow of the course

About this spot

This is an old temple standing in the center of Kubokawa, known as the 37th sacred site of the 88 temples of Shikoku. The coffered ceiling of the main hall is lined with as many as 575 vividly colored paintings donated by local artists and ordinary people, depicting subjects ranging from flowers, birds, and natural scenery to kabuki actors. Beyond visiting to pray, simply looking up at these ceiling paintings for a while makes this a rewarding spot to see.

Tips

About a 5-minute walk from JR Kubokawa Station (窪川駅). The ceiling paintings can be viewed freely inside the main hall. There's little shade on the temple grounds in summer, so remember to stay hydrated.

Best time to visit

About 1 hour. Just after midday there tend to be fewer visitors, so you can look around quietly.

Access & map

〒786-0004 高知県高岡郡四万十町茂串町３−１３