Jikoji Temple

Jikoji is a temple of the Jodo Seizan Zenrinji school in Nishi-tsuchido-cho, Onomichi. Its mountain name is Nichirinzan, and its principal image is Amida Buddha. It stands halfway up Mt. Senkoji on the Onomichi Temple Walk and forms a group of temples with neighboring Komyoji and Hodoji.

One reason many visitors know Jikoji is the nigiri-botoke ("squeezed Buddha") experience. You shape your own small Buddha statue from clay and take it home as a charm. It is popular with people of all ages as a way to connect with Buddhist culture by making something, not only by praying.

Jikoji's nigiri-botoke is an original experience offered at the temple. You squeeze the clay provided in your palm to make your own Buddha figure (such as a Jizo). The shape is completely up to you, and you can get guidance on how to make it.

It takes about 30 minutes to an hour. You can take your finished piece home, as a souvenir of the trip or as a charm to keep at home. Children and adults can both enjoy it, so it suits families and groups of friends.

Check with the temple in advance about availability, hours and fees. It may not be offered on busy days or certain dates.

Jikoji is known for owning the national treasure Kenpon Chakushoku Fugen Enmei-zo, a painting said to date from the late Heian period. It depicts the bodhisattva Fugen Enmei and is highly regarded for its fine detail and good condition.

However, you cannot see the original national treasure on a normal visit. It is usually kept in a secure storage facility and shown to the public only on special occasions or at exhibitions. Contact the temple or check for public viewing information before you visit.

The grounds of Jikoji are quiet, far from the crowds of Senkoji and Senkoji Park. At the top of the stone steps is the gate, and beyond it the main hall and grounds. The grounds are not large, but they are well kept and give you a calm time to pray.

It is a little off the main tourist routes such as Senkoji and the Path of Literature, so it stays fairly quiet even when the area is busy. On a walk around Onomichi, it is a place to stop and relax.

Jikoji is one of the main temples on Onomichi's Temple Walk. The course starts at the north exit of Onomichi Station and visits several temples while climbing stone-paved slopes. Walking the whole thing takes 2–3 hours.

Besides Jikoji, the course includes Komyoji, Hodoji, Senkoji and Tenneiji, each with its own atmosphere and highlights. There is also a Temple Walk stamp rally where you collect stamps at each temple (stamp cards are available at tourist information centers and elsewhere).

If you want to walk the slopes and visit several temples rather than see just one, we strongly recommend walking the whole Temple Walk including Jikoji. See the Onomichi guide for more.

Head east from the north exit of JR Onomichi Station and climb the stone-paved slopes and steps for about 8–10 minutes. The route is uphill all the way, so comfortable shoes are a must.

Visiting hours are roughly 9:00–16:30 and may change at certain times such as the New Year holidays. The nigiri-botoke experience requires separate registration, so come early in the day if you want to try it.