Gokuraku-ji (Saijō)

Gokuraku-ji (極楽寺) is the head temple of the Ishizuchisan Shingon and Shugendō sect in Saijō, Ehime Prefecture, Japan.

However, at the end of the Muromachi period, Tengaji Temple was burned down in 1350 during the wars of the Sengoku period, and the head priest at the time, Gyozen Daitoku, ordered his disciple Yuhoshi to find a place to continue the flame of Tengaji's teachings, and passed away.

Yuhoshi found this place where he could look up at Mount Ryuo, built a temple, named it Gokurakuji, and protected the flame of the teachings.

Since Gokurakuji was established, two fires have destroyed many of the temple's treasures, but the original images have been preserved, and to this day, goma bonfires are held in front of Ishizuchi Kongo Zaō Gongen in the mornings and evenings.

In the Meiji period, the Shinto-Buddhist separation order was enacted, and when Ishizuchisan Zao Gongen betto Zenjin-ji and Ishizuchi-Zaō Gongensha betto Yokomine-ji, both of which enshrine Ishizuchi Gongen, were abandoned (and later rebuilt), this temple was not abandoned, and Ishizuchi faith has continued.