Tairyuji Temple

Tairyuji is the 21st temple of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage, standing on a mountain at around 500 metres elevation in the Kamo-cho district of Anan. It belongs to the Koyasan Shingon school and is traditionally linked to the monk Kukai, who is said to have undertaken ascetic practice on the mountain in his youth; a statue commemorating this sits on a nearby cliff. Because the climb on foot is long and steep, most visitors now use the Tairyuji Ropeway, which at 2,775 metres is the longest in western Japan and crosses the Naka River valley in about ten minutes. Entering the temple grounds is free, but the ropeway charges a fare of about 2,600 yen for a round trip. The ropeway base station has a free car park. Walking pilgrims still reach the temple on the traditional mountain trail.