Ishibotoke Temple

The origin of the village name Ishibotoke comes from the tradition handed down that says Kōbo Daishi (Kukai) had placed a stone statue of the Buddha he had carved in his ascetic practices in Shikoku and enshrined it to settle a protective spiritual or magical force field to the north where the Koyasan is. At present, in the Ishibotoke Temple, a Seated Amida Nyorai made of tuff stone is the principal object of worship. Also, a little bit north from the temple near the Kōya Kaido we can find the “Daishi no Ido” (Kobo Daishi’s well) which is still gushing out. In the Medieval Period, near the top of the mountains at the back the Ishibotoke Castle was settled.