Last Updated: Feb 18, 2024
Why Visit Kosan-ji
A Famed Allure on the Shimanami Kaido
Last year, while escorting a few journalists from the UK as part of my ongoing work with the Setouchi DMO, I had the chance to finally visit the impressive Kosan-ji temple complex. Located along the Shimanami Kaido on the island of Ikuchijima, Kosan-ji is actually a relatively new location having only been completed in the 1960s after 30 years of constant construction. Allegedly, the successful businessman who founded Kosan-ji did so out of dedication to his late mother. Talk about familial ties!
Despite not being a UNESCO World Heritage Site nor boasting any of the ancient architecture that you might find at one of Japan’s many important cultural properties, Kosan-ji is still definitely worth a visit. Especially if you’re taking it slow along the Shimanami Kaido (which I recommend) and enjoying all of the spots along the way, Kosan-ji and the Miraishin-no-Oka or “Hill of Eternal Hope” in English are definitely worth your time.
By the way, if you feel this weird sense of déjà vu as you meander about Kosan-ji, know that means that you’re well traveled. You see, the temple grounds house a number of buildings that were modeled after some of Japan’s most esteemed national treasures. At Kosan-ji, you’ll find a replica of Nikko…
