Ishite-ji Temple — Cave Temple with 88 Statues

**Cave tunnel experience:** The Manoyama Cave (マントの山洞窟) entrance is behind the main temple hall, marked by a small donation box (¥100 suggested). The tunnel is narrow (one-person width in sections), cool (15°C year-round), and dimly lit — bring a flashlight or use smartphone light. The path climbs stairs through several chambers before exiting at a hilltop shrine with city views. **Pilgrimage context:** Ishite-ji is one of the busiest temples on the Shikoku 88-temple circuit. White-robed henro (pilgrims) arrive throughout the day, chanting sutras and collecting temple stamps (goshuin, ¥300). Visitors can purchase a nokyo-cho (stamp book, ¥1,500) and begin their own pilgrimage from any temple — completing all 88 temples takes 40–60 days on foot. **Niomon gate:** The two-story entrance gate houses massive wooden Nio guardian statues (4 meters tall) carved in 1318, designated Important Cultural Properties. The gates' detailed woodwork and weathered paint create a dramatically photogenic entrance, especially in afternoon side-lighting. **Three-story pagoda:** The 1318 pagoda stands 20 meters tall and is the oldest structure on the grounds. Climb the adjacent hillside for a composition framing the pagoda against the city below.