Iyo Henro Trail to Kanjizai-ji

The Iyo Henro Trail to Kanjizai-ji (伊予遍路道 観自在寺道) is a pilgrimage route in Ainan, Minamiuwa District, Ehime Prefecture, leading to Kanjizai-ji, the 40th temple of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage. The route is one of the components of the National Historic Site Iyo Henro-michi, preserving the early-modern path and stone markers of the Shikoku pilgrimage tradition. According to temple tradition, Kanjizai-ji was founded in 807 CE by Kobo Daishi Kukai, and the section from the 39th temple Enko-ji in Sukumo over Matsuo Pass is regarded as the most remote stage of the pilgrimage. Stone henro markers along the route date mainly from the late 17th century onwards, and the trail was designated a National Historic Site in 2016.