阿波国分寺は、8世紀に国分寺建立を進めた聖武天皇ゆかりの寺です。

Emperor Shōmu ordered 68 provincial temples built across Japan in 741 to pray for recovery from a devastating smallpox epidemic. Each temple received a statue of Shaka Nyorai and copies of Buddhist sutras.

阿波国分寺は四国八十八箇所霊場の第15番札所で、徳島市にある正式な巡礼札所です。

The temple's garden features dramatic stone formations from the late Edo period and is designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty. Admission costs just 300 yen to see one of Japan's finest dry landscape gardens.