Yashima Temple & Historic Battlefield

Perched on the summit of Yashima, a distinctive table-shaped lava plateau rising 292 meters above sea level, Yashima Temple combines spiritual significance as Temple Number 84 on the Shikoku Pilgrimage with historical importance as the site of a pivotal 12th-century naval battle. The temple was founded over 1,200 years ago and has served as a place of prayer and contemplation for generations of Buddhist devotees. The approach to the summit can be made via winding road or hiking trail through forests of pine and cedar, with both routes offering increasingly expansive views across Takamatsu city and the Seto Inland Sea. The temple complex features traditional architecture including an impressive main hall, multi-story pagoda, and treasure hall displaying religious artifacts and historical items. The plateau's summit offers 360-degree panoramic views that make immediately clear why this location was chosen as a defensive position during the Genpei War of 1185, when Minamoto and Taira clan forces clashed in the waters below. Walking trails circle the plateau edge, passing observation points, historical markers explaining battle events, and monuments commemorating warriors who fought here. The adjacent Shikoku Mura Village Museum preserves relocated historical buildings from across the island.