Ido-ji, the Seventeenth Temple, sits in the heart of Tokushima City and marks the pilgrim's final stop in the pilgrimage's first province. The temple's name, which translates to "Well Temple," originates from its founding legend, in which a priest created a freshwater well to save the village. Kobo Daishi later enshrined the temple's principal image of Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of Medicine, cementing the site's enduring theme of healing. The temple's central feature is the "Well of Wisdom," from which pilgrims draw water for physical health and mental clarity. A unique statue of the guardian Bishamonten, who holds a flute instead of a weapon, offers a gentle and protective presence. Completing the rituals at Ido-ji prepares pilgrims to cross the Yoshino River and begin the next, more arduous stage of their journey.

17. Ido-ji: Seventeenth 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 #idoji #井戸寺