@wanderfulrevolution: **Temple 66 — Unpen-ji** Unpen-ji sits at the highest elevation of any temple on the entire pilgrimage, perched on a mountain straddling the border between Ehime and Kagawa — reaching it requires one of the route's most demanding climbs, comparable to Yokomine-ji or Tairyū-ji, though a cable car option exists here as it does at Tairyū-ji for those unable or unwilling to walk the full ascent. The temple is dedicated to Senju Kannon, and its name — meaning "Cloud Edge Temple" — reflects its position, often literally above the clouds in certain weather conditions. The temple's grounds are known for an unusual and striking feature: rows of stone statues depicting Buddhist arhats (enlightened disciples), hundreds of them arranged across the mountainside, each with distinct expressions and postures — a visual scale unlike almost anything else on the pilgrimage, more reminiscent of a dedicated sculptural site than a typical temple courtyard. Crossing into this border territory, physically standing atop the boundary between two prefectures, gives Unpen-ji a liminal quality that suits its status as the highest point on the entire route — a fitting, demanding threshold just before the pilgrimage enters Kagawa and its final stage, the "dōjō of nirvana." From Unpen-ji, the descent leads toward Temple 67, Daikō-ji, into Kagawa Prefecture itself. #japan #88templepilgrimage #shikoku #longdistance #walking

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Wednesday 09 September 2026 21:10:45 GMT