Gokurakuji Temple

Gokurakuji (極楽寺) is the second temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage in Shikoku, Japan. Famous for its vibrant red wooden gates, the temple welcomes visitors with a beautiful garden featuring a serene koi pond. Visitors can walk up 44 stone steps leading to the main hall. Near the hall, you'll find a statue of Kukai, the Buddhist monk who inspired the pilgrimage, also known as "Ansan Daishi."

The temple is also home to significant cultural relics, including a seated wooden statue of Amida Nyorai, created during Japan's Heian period. Legend has it that Kukai had a vision of this celestial Buddha at Gokurakuji, which led to the statue's creation. Though the statue and hall were destroyed in a fire in the 16th century, they were rebuilt in 1659, preserving their historical importance.