A Power Spot in Shikoku, Japan: Kotohira-gu Shrine with 1,368 Stone Steps

#1月好去地方2025

This famous and difficult temple in Shikoku is located at the foot of the 521-meter-high Elephant Head Mountain. To visit Kotohira-gu Shrine, you must first walk the 1,368-step stone path. There is no cable car to take, which is a great test of both your physical strength and your will!

When I visited Kotohira-gu Shrine in April, I saw the approach to the shrine was covered with a sea of ​​blooming cherry blossoms on both sides, which was so beautiful that I couldn't take my eyes off it! The colorful and pink cherry blossoms, set against the stone steps and temples of the ancient temple, and the slightly cloudy weather, really reach new heights of beauty.

Kotohira-gu Shrine is a well-known sacred place of power in Japan. It is also a heavyweight attraction that many Japanese people have considered to be a "must-visit pilgrimage once in their lifetime" since ancient times. The temple enshrines Omononushi and Emperor Sutoku, gods who protect maritime safety and a good harvest. Therefore, many new ships come here to pray for safety before launching.

Although there are many stairs in Kotohira-gu Shrine, they can be divided into two stages. One is the 785 steps from the shrine to the Hongu Shrine, and the other is the 583 steps from the Hongu Shrine to the Genkondama Shrine. The whole journey takes 2 hours. People with poor physical strength can just walk half of it. There are many shops along the way at the foot of the mountain where you can buy some food to replenish your energy, or go shopping for some companionship.

#Shikoku Travel #Konpiragu Shrine

Post by Moutain | Feb 12, 2025