Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-10-07 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Ryōzen-ji, “Vulture Peak Temple”, is a Shingon temple of the Kōyasan school in Naruto, Tokushima, best known as Temple No. 1 of the Shikoku pilgrimage. It is dedicated to Shaka Nyorai and said to have been founded by Gyōki in the Tenpyō era, though its buildings are later replacements after fires. Because it lies near the crossing point for pilgrims from the Kansai region, Yūben Shinnen listed it as No. 1 in his pilgrim guide of 1687, and later guidebooks followed. Pilgrims customarily return here for a thanksgiving visit after completing the circuit, though this may be a fairly recent custom.
Bandō Station on the Kōtoku Line is about 650 m away in a straight line. Ōasahiko Shrine is about 1.2 km away, and Konsen-ji about 3.4 km.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Ryouzenji20210330 1 — Dokudami · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ryouzenzi 09 — Dokudami · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ryouzenzi 08 — Dokudami · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ryouzenzi 04 — Dokudami · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ryouzenzi05 — Dokudami · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source · resized
- Ryouzennzi 05 — Dokudami · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ryouzenji enmusubikannon 01 — Araiyasushige · CC0 · source · resized
- Ryouzenji 20230328 2 — Araiyasushige · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ryouzenji 20230328 1 — Araiyasushige · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
- Ryouzenji 20200310 01 — Dokudami · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Ryōzen-ji (霊山寺, 'Vulture Peak Temple') is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan best known as the first temple of the Shikoku pilgrimage. It is associated with the Kōyasan sect and dedicated to Shaka Nyorai. Said to have been founded by Gyōki during the Tenpyō era, its buildings are more recent replacements after damage by fires. Located close to the crossing point for pilgrims from the Kansai region, Yūben Shinnen identified the temple as No.1 in his Shikoku henro michishirube of 1687 and subsequent guidebooks followed suit. It is customary to return to Ryōzen-ji on a 'thanksgiving visit' (orei mairi) upon completing the pilgrimage, although this may be a relatively recent development.
Visitor information checked: 2026-10-07 · Official visitor information
Background text adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Temple
Nearby station
Nearby station: Bandō (Kōtoku Line), about 650 m from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-14 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
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