Yakuoji Onsen

Yakuoji Onsen takes its name from the famous Yakuoji temple—the 23rd temple of the Shikoku 88-temple Buddhist pilgrimage circuit, celebrated as a temple of protection against the bad luck years (yakudoshi) that Japanese tradition marks at specific ages in life, and where pilgrims ritually climb the temple stairs in a ceremony of cleansing and protection. Simple alkaline waters offer the gentle, accessible mineral bath that complements the spiritual practice of the pilgrimage route, providing a welcome rest for henro (pilgrim) travelers who have walked the demanding mountain and coastal trails of the Shikoku circuit and seek thermal comfort before the road ahead. Bathing at a spring associated with a temple of protection from misfortune adds a ceremonial dimension to the simple mineral soak, connecting the thermal bath with the wish for safety across the difficult passages of life.