Yashima Temple Overview
Yashima Temple is a Buddhist temple located atop the Yashima plateau in Takamatsu city, Kagawa Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku. It is the 84th temple on the Shikoku Ohenro pilgrimage circuit, the 88-temple route associated with the Buddhist monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi), founder of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. The temple sits at an elevation of approximately 293 meters on the flat-topped mesa of Yashima, a distinctive landform of hardened lava that rises dramatically above the surrounding coastal plain and the Seto Inland Sea.
The temple’s origins are traced to the 8th century, traditionally attributed to the Chinese monk Ganjin (Jianzhen), who is said to have founded a small hermitage on the plateau. The temple was later associated with Kukai, who is said to have visited and rebuilt the complex during his travels through Shikoku in the early 9th century. The current main hall dates to the late 16th century and is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Enshrined within is Senju Kannon, the Thousand-Armed Kannon, a bodhisattva associated with compassion and the relief of suffering.
Yashima is equally renowned as the site of the Battle of Yashima in 1185, a significant naval engagement of the Genpei War between the Taira and Minamoto clans. The battle is perhaps best known for the legendary episode in which Nasu no Yoichi, a Minamoto archer, shot a fan mounted on a pole on a Taira boat from horseback in the sea — a feat of marksmanship celebrated in the Tale of the Heike. The Yashima plateau’s Pond of Blood (Chikura-ga-fuchi) and various battlefield relics preserved on the grounds serve as reminders of this historic engagement.
Best Times To Visit Yashima Temple
Spring (March to May) is one of the most popular times to visit. Cherry blossoms bloom across the plateau in late March and early April, and the mild temperatures make the walk around the mesa particularly pleasant. Clear spring days offer some of the finest views across the Seto Inland Sea and the distant islands of the Setouchi archipelago.
Autumn (October to November) is one of the most recommended times to visit. The plateau’s maple and other deciduous trees turn shades of red and gold, and the clear autumn air delivers sharp, far-reaching views across the sea. The combination of autumn foliage and panoramic coastal scenery makes this one of the most photogenic periods at Yashima.