Awa Kokubun-ji与圣武天皇有关,这位8世纪推动全国国分寺体系建设的统治者。

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.

Awa Kokubun-ji是四国八十八所灵场第15号札所,是德岛市正式的朝圣参拜站之一。

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.