Nankobo Temple Information
Goshuin
- Omie
- 1,200th Anniversary Edition
Basic Information
| Principal Deity | Daitsu Chisho Nyorai |
| Elevation | 10 m |
| Google Maps | MAP |
Accommodation
| Shukubo (Temple Lodging) | Not Available |
| Tsuyado (Free Pilgrim Shelter) | Not Available |
History & Highlights
Nankobo is the only temple among the 88 sacred sites of the Shikoku Pilgrimage with the name “Bō” (坊). Closely connected with Ōyamazumi Shrine, the former provincial shrine of Iyo, it flourished as a temple associated with Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi). Despite enduring wartime destruction and the anti-Buddhist movement of the Meiji period, Nankobo continues to be an important place of worship at the heart of Imabari City.
Route Map, Distance & Travel Time
You can switch between the tabs to view the routes to the previous and next temples.
Select “Driving Route” from the map’s upper-left menu to display the driving route.
Click the Full Screen icon in the upper-right corner of the map to open it in Google Maps for a larger, easier-to-view map.
- From Previous Temple
- To Next Temple
Previous Temple: Enmeiji
| Distance | 3.4 km |
| Walking | 1 hr |
| Driving | 15 min |
Next Temple: Taizanji
| Distance | 3 km |
| Walking | 50 min |
| Driving | 15 min |
My Walking Experience
Nankobo is located about 3 km (1.9 miles) east of Enmeiji. Situated near the center of Imabari City, it is one of the more easily accessible temples along the Shikoku Pilgrimage.
After leaving Enmeiji, the route first heads east through peaceful farmland. About 500 m (0.3 miles) later, you pass beneath the elevated section of the Shimanami Kaidō Expressway, then continue along a rather unusual pilgrimage path that runs through a cemetery. It may feel a little confusing if it is your first time walking this route, but this is the official henro trail.
After leaving the cemetery and crossing a small river, the scenery changes completely as you enter the urban area of Imabari. Since Beppū Ōyamazumi Shrine is located directly next to Nankobo, be careful not to mistake the shrine for the temple when visiting.
History of Nankobo
Nankobo originally flourished as the bettoji (associated temple) of Ōyamazumi Shrine, the former provincial shrine of Iyo. Because of this connection, the temple still maintains a close relationship with the adjacent Beppū Ōyamazumi Shrine, creating a unique landscape where a temple and shrine stand side by side.
As a valuable site that preserves the history of Shinbutsu-shūgō (the traditional blending of Buddhist and Shinto beliefs), Nankobo offers visitors a glimpse into Japan’s religious history before the separation of Buddhism and Shinto.
Nankobo is also known as the only temple among the 88 sacred sites of the Shikoku Pilgrimage with the word “Bō” (坊) in its name.
In addition, the temple’s principal image, Daitsu Chisho Nyorai, is a rare Buddha that is enshrined only at Nankobo among the 88 pilgrimage temples, making it one of the temple’s most distinctive features.
Nearby Accommodation
If you plan to stay near Nankobo or between the surrounding pilgrimage temples, see the article below.
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Temple List and Full Route
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