Komyo-ji, a temple designed by Tadao Ando. 15 minutes walk from Iyo-Saijo station.
Temples 60 through 64 on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage fall within Saijo city limits. Temple 60, Yokomineji 横峰寺ï¼is considered the most difficult temple to reach because of its lack of access by ropeway and the tough climb to get there. The closest rail access is from Iyo-Komatsu (ä¼äºå°æ¾ï¼station, where you will also find nearby temples 61 and 62, Ko-onji (é¦åå¯ºï¼ and Hojuji (å®å¯¿å¯º, respectively. Temple 63, Kichijoji (å祥寺 is an easy walk from Iyo-Himi ä¼äºæ°·è¦ï¼station. Walk up the road without crossing the train tracks and make a right at the first small street, at the next corner it will be on your right. Temple 64, Maegameji (åç¥å¯ºï¼is at the foot of Mt. Ishizuchi, and like Yokomineji it is particularly hard to access by walking. The closest train stop is, again, Iyo-Himi station. If you are interested in visiting these temples, it might be easiest to arrange to go with a bus tour with Setouchi Travel Company (http://www.setouchibus.co.jp/in Japanese.
The Kamo river runs through Saijo halway between Iyo-Saijo ä¼äºè¥¿æ¡ and Ishizuchijinja ç³éç¥ç¤¾ï¼ stations, and at the river there is a particularly pretty spot for cherry blossom viewing where the river comes down from the mountains and meets Route 11. From the station, take a 10 minute walk down Ekinishidori until you reach a fountain and uchinuki (water spring for which Saijo is famous , make a left there and continue until you reach the road on the other side. Make a left at that road until you reach Route 11, right before it becomes the bridge over the Kamo River.ãCross the road, then walk right toward the bridge. Make a left atop the levee hill next to the river until you reach a street lined with trees. You will reach a park and if you continue up this street there is a pleasant hill you can hike up, the entire hike is about 25 minutes, and affords pleasant city views, particularly in the early morning or late afternoon/evening.
Also, if you ride the train to Ishizuchijinja Station ç³éç¥ç¤¾é§ , it is about a ten minute walk from there to the entrance road to Ishizuchi Shrine not to be confused with access to hiking the mountain, which is more easily done by taking a bus from Saijo station to the ropeway. The shrine is in homage to the spirit of Mt. Ishizuchi, and is a secluded and nice place to visit with commanding views of the surrounding area. Just head toward giant red gate, visible from the station platform.
