Kichijo-ji (Saijo)

Kichijo-ji stands in the Himi district of Saijo, Ehime Prefecture. It belongs to the Toji school of Shingon Buddhism, is the 63rd temple of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, and also serves as the Bishamonten temple of the Shikoku Toyo Seven Lucky Gods route. Its main image is Bishamonten, and it is the only one of the 88 temples to enshrine him as the principal deity.

According to temple tradition, Kukai carved statues of Bishamonten, Kisshoten and Zenbushidoji from a glowing cypress during the Konin era (810-823). The original complex stood in the mountains and had as many as 21 sub-temples. In 1585, during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's conquest of Shikoku, fighting around Takao Castle led to the mountain temple being burned; the main image was carried to a hall at the foot of the mountain and survived. The temple was rebuilt on its present site in 1659 after merging with the sub-temple Kaiboku-ji.

The main image is a hidden Buddha shown only once every 60 years, next scheduled for 2038. The main hall was renovated for about a year starting in 2022. In the grounds, the Kuguri Kichijoten statue is said to bring wealth to those who pass beneath it, and pilgrims try to thread a staff through the hole of the wish-granting Joju Stone with their eyes closed. Treasures include a Maria Kannon statue and an Edo-period lady's palanquin. Iyo-Himi Station is only about 0.2 km away, and the previous temple, No. 62 Hoju-ji, is about 1.5 km away.