Shosan-ji steht auf dem Berg Shosanji auf etwa 706 Metern über dem Meeresspiegel und hat dadurch einen ausgeprägten Bergkloster-Charakter.

This is the first 'nansho' (difficult place) on the 88-temple pilgrimage, featuring 'henro gorogashi' or 'pilgrim fall down' paths so steep that locals tell stories of pilgrims who quit here.

At 706 meters elevation, it's the second highest temple on the pilgrimage. The grounds are surrounded by gigantic cedar trees over 500 years old, designated as natural monuments of Tokushima Prefecture.

En no Gyoja, founder of Shugendo mountain asceticism, originally established this temple after subduing a dragon that terrorized villagers with mountain fires and floods.