Tairyū-ji (太龍寺), the Twenty-first Temple of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, rises high in the mountains of Tokushima and fully lives up to its name, “Great Dragon Temple.” Pilgrims reach it by either hiking up steep, forested paths or taking one of the longest ropeways in Japan, which glides over a dramatic valley and offers sweeping views. The temple grounds feel remote and powerful, surrounded by cedar trees that reinforce its atmosphere of seclusion. Kūkai himself is said to have practised austerities here, and the temple preserves that spiritual weight, with halls and statues that seem to merge with the mountain landscape. Visitors often remark on the sense of awe created by its scale and setting—standing there feels like stepping into a sacred realm, watched over by the mountain’s protective dragon spirit.
21. Tairyū-ji: Twenty-first Temple of the Sacred Shikoku Pilgrimage in Tokushima, Japan. #kobodaishi #弘法大師 #pilgrimage #お遍路 #tokushimaprefecture #徳島県 #shikokupilgrimage #四国遍路 #japan #発心の道場 #shikoku #tairyuji #太龍寺
