Kakurinji, a Mountaintop Temple of the White Crane Legend in Katsuura, Tokushima

Resting on a mountaintop in Katsuura town, Tokushima, Kakurinji is the twentieth temple of the Shikoku pilgrimage and is known as one of the three hardest stops in Awa, ranked alongside Shosanji and Tairyuji. Having climbed the steep pilgrim path called the henro tumbler, described in the saying first Shosan, second Otsuru, third Tairyu, one reaches the mountaintop grounds at an elevation of about four hundred seventy meters, where the principal image of Jizo Bodhisattva is enshrined. It is said that when the great teacher Kobo Daishi was training on this mountain, two white cranes, male and female, alighted on the branches of an old cedar, and from this the temple took its name. Within the grounds wrapped in deep cedars, a three storied pagoda rises quietly, said to have been begun in 1817 and raised in 1827, and it is designated a prefectural cultural property as the only three storied pagoda in Tokushima Prefecture.

Highlights

• The legend that gives the temple its name, of male and female white cranes alighting here
• The three storied pagoda said to have been built in 1827, the only one in Tokushima Prefecture and a designated prefectural cultural property
• The deep and solemn cedar groves enfolding the mountaintop grounds
• The sense of achievement on the climb, counted among the three hardest stops in Awa

Access and Basic Information

• Location: Aza Washigao, Ina, Katsuura town, Katsuura district, Tokushima
• By car: It is convenient to come by car from the direction of JR Tokushima Station. There is a car park for visitors, by donation, with room for about twenty vehicles
• The grounds sit at an elevation of about four hundred seventy meters, and from the end of the road you walk further up steps and slopes to the main hall
• The front approach is the steep henro tumbler, so use comfortable shoes and a reasonable plan
• Confirm the details of the temple stamp and visiting through official or on site sources

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season: Fresh greenery in spring and autumn leaves in fall are especially beautiful, and the climb in clear air is pleasant. Beware of frozen roads in winter
• Time of day: Given the mountain driving, a visit from morning to early afternoon in daylight is reassuring
• Time needed: Allow about forty minutes to one hour to tour from the car park to the main hall and pagoda
• Nearby real spots: Hoshinoiwaya, the Hoshidaniji inner sanctuary of Tateiji, lies in the same Katsuura town, and since its stamp is received at Kakurinji they are easy to tour together. Katsuura town is also known for its grand doll festival
• Budget: Parking is by donation. Confirm details such as the stamp fee on site

A Quick Tip

The climb is by no means easy, but the freshness on arriving is all the more special for it. Standing before the pagoda wrapped in deep cedars, you may feel your heart grow clear along with a quiet sense of achievement. Drive the mountain road carefully and visit with time to spare.

📚 Sources

This article draws mainly on the history and stamp guidance published on site by Kakurinji and the materials of Katsuura town and Tokushima Prefecture on the Shikoku pilgrimage and the prefecturally designated three storied pagoda. It also reflects the interpretive signs in the precinct and along the approach. Stamp and worship information and mountain road conditions may change, so please confirm with the official information of Kakurinji or Katsuura town before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: About forty minutes to one hour to tour from the car park to the main hall and pagoda.
• What to bring: Comfortable shoes and a reasonable plan, as the front approach is steep; confirm the stamp fee on site.
• How to get around: A car is convenient from the direction of JR Tokushima Station; use the car park by donation and walk steps and slopes from the end of the road.
• Time of day: Given the mountain driving, a visit from morning to early afternoon is reassuring; beware of frozen roads in winter.
• Note: The steep approach is counted among the three hardest stops in Awa, so keep your visit within your energy.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Visiting hours: 7:00-17:00 (as published by the Katsuura Town tourist information site)
• Location: 14 Washigao, Ikuna, Katsuura Town, Katsuura District, Tokushima Prefecture 771-4303
• Temple lodging: None
• Walking pilgrimage route: About 4 km from the foot of the mountain to the temple gate, roughly an hour and a half of climbing. Starting from the main hall, 11 stone distance markers carved with Muromachi period era names remain along the pilgrimage route (one cho is about 109 metres), and they are regarded as the oldest such markers in Tokushima Prefecture. The pilgrimage paths in the area were designated a National Historic Site as the "Awa Pilgrimage Route" in 2010 (Heisei 22)
• Access by public transport: From JR Tokushima Station take the Tokushima Bus Katsuura Line and get off at "Ikuna", from where it is about a 7 km walk. It is about 26.4 km to the next temple, No. 21 (Tairyuji)
• Enquiries: 0885-42-3020 (Kakurinji)
• Official information: Katsuura Town tourist information site "Awa Katsuura" / Awa Navi (Tokushima Prefecture tourism information site) / official website of the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Temple Pilgrimage Association

* The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Hours and fees are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.