Eko-in temple
Eko-in temple is a Shingon Buddhist temple located in Renge-dani, Mount
Koya, Wakayama Prefecture.
The principal image is Amida Buddha.
The temple is said to have been founded
when Kobo Daishi built a five-foot pagoda here and gave a lecture on Daikyo-o Sutra.
It is said to have been founded by Dosho
Sozu, one of Kobo Daishi's ten greatest disciples.
It was restored by Shonin Ajari, who became
an inspector (Kengyo) in 1139.
It was second restored by Toji Ajari
Ryocho, who offered a lantern from Toji Temple in the Enkyo era (1308) to
restore the local Hodoin-dani valley.
During the Sengoku period, the temple was a patron of the Shimazu clan,
and in 1563, the memorial stone of Shimazu Yoshitora was enshrined at the
temple.
Later, Yoshihiro erected a memorial stone for his eldest brother, Yoshihisa,
in Okunoin, and also built a memorial stone for the allies and enemies
of the Korean battle out of Ryukyu stone in Okunoin.
It is located near Ichinohashi Bridge at the entrance to Okunoin, and the "Koyasan Okunoin Night Tour" (19:15 - 20:30) starts from this temple every night.
Take a bus from Koyasan Station on the
Nankai Koya Line and get off at Karikayado-mae stop.
