Tatsue-ji

The main statue is actually a 1.9-meter tall Jizo carved by Kobo Daishi with a tiny 5.5 cm golden statue hidden inside, originally made by Gyoki for Empress Komyo's safe childbirth.

The temple burned down twice, once in the Tensho era (1575-1785) and again in 1974, but miraculously the principal Jizo statue survived both fires completely unharmed.

Known as the 'barrier station of Shikoku,' this temple traditionally judged the hearts of pilgrims for evil intentions, acting as a spiritual checkpoint before they could continue the pilgrimage.

The temple's bell cord is said to contain actual flesh from a woman named Okyo whose hair became supernaturally tangled in it when she came before Jizo to repent for her evil deeds.