Iyadani-ji is associated with Gyoki and traces its origins to the early 8th century.

You must climb 540 stone steps total to reach the main hall: 400 steps from the entrance gate, then another 140 steps through scattered rock-carved Buddha statues embedded into the mountainside.

Iyadani-ji is Temple No. 71 on the 88-site Shikoku Pilgrimage.

The temple was founded around 724 AD, making it 50 to 100 years older than Kōbō Daishi himself, who was born in 774. The original purpose was to heal Empress Kōmyō's illness.