# Nankou-bou, Japan: what it is and when to go > Nankou-bou is a Shingon temple in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, which is Temple 55 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage (第55番札所 南光坊) (Matsuyama). Interests: Temples. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 15 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 44. It has articles in 3 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/55-nankobo/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Shingon temple in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, which is Temple 55 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage · Temples - **Local name:** 第55番札所 南光坊 - **Where:** Japan - **Best time:** February to May and October to November. - **Nearest airport:** KIX Osaka, 211 km as the crow flies - **Coordinates:** 34.06823, 132.99531 ## What it is and where Nankou-bou is a Shingon temple in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, which is Temple 55 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage (第55番札所 南光坊) (Matsuyama). It has articles in 3 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. It is in [Matsuyama](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/matsuyama/), where this site lists 100 more places to see, 33 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 34.06823, 132.99531; the nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX, Osaka), 211 km as the crow flies. How to get around Japan (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=34.068227%2C132.995306) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.068227%2C132.995306) It is one of the [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/espiritual/) places in Japan. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Nankou-bou is **February to May and October to November**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 58 | | February | Best time | 10 h 47 | | March | Best time | 11 h 45 | | April | Best time | 12 h 51 | | May | Best time | 13 h 46 | | June | Possible | 14 h 15 | | July | Possible | 14 h 04 | | August | Possible | 13 h 16 | | September | Possible | 12 h 12 | | October | Best time | 11 h 07 | | November | Best time | 10 h 11 | | December | Possible | 9 h 44 | In June there are 14 h 15 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 44. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Japan in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Japan To enter Japan there are 10 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “A valid passport covering your whole stay”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Japan checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Japanese yen (JPY); plugs: Type A and B · 100 V · 50/60 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 119 ambulance and fire. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Imabari Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/imabari-castle/): Japanese castle in Imabari, Ehime, Japan, which is well known as one of the three Mizujiro, or "Castles on the sea", in Japan · 1.2 km - [Shikoku Pilgrimage 55th Nankōbō - 56th Taisanji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/shikoku-pilgrimage-55th-nankobo-56th-taisanji/): Hiking · 1.3 km - [Shikoku Pilgrimage 54th Enmeiji - 55th Nankōbō](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/shikoku-pilgrimage-54th-enmeiji-55th-nankobo/): Hiking · 1.4 km - [Enmei-ji Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/54-enmei-ji/): Shingon temple in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, which is Temple 54 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage · 2.9 km - [Chikami-yama](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/chikamiyama/): Mountain in Japan · 2.9 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). ## More in Japan: Temples - [Kiyomizu-dera](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kiyomizu-dera/): Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto - [Kinkaku-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kinkaku-ji/): Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan - [Hōryū-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/horyu-ji/): Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture, Japan - [Ise Shrine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/ise-shrine/): Shinto shrine in Mie Prefecture, Japan - [Kōtoku-in](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/kotoku-in/): Buddhist temple in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan - [Byōdō-in](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/byodo-in/): Buddhist temple in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan Every Japan place under Temples, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/espiritual/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Nankou-bou? It is a Shingon temple in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, which is Temple 55 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage (第55番札所 南光坊 in the local language). It has articles in 3 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. ### When is the best time to visit Nankou-bou? February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 15 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 44. ### How do you get to Nankou-bou? The nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX), 211 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.068227%2C132.995306) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Japan is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Japan map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Imabari Castle](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/imabari-castle/), [Shikoku Pilgrimage 55th Nankōbō - 56th Taisanji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/shikoku-pilgrimage-55th-nankobo-56th-taisanji/), [Shikoku Pilgrimage 54th Enmeiji - 55th Nankōbō](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/shikoku-pilgrimage-54th-enmeiji-55th-nankobo/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/4435546089), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11407501), CC0. Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).