# Gokuraku-ji, Japan: what it is and when to go > Gokuraku-ji is a Shingon temple in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, which is Temple 2 of the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage (極楽寺). Interests: Temples. The best time to visit is February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 16 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 44. It has articles in 6 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/gokuraku-ji/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Shingon temple in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, which is Temple 2 of the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage · Temples - **Local name:** 極楽寺 - **Where:** Japan · 12, 779-0225, 鳴門市, 徳島県 - **Best time:** February to May and October to November. - **Nearest airport:** KIX Osaka, 76 km as the crow flies - **Website:** [88shikokuhenro.jp](http://www.88shikokuhenro.jp/tokushima/02gokurakuji/) - **Coordinates:** 34.15616, 134.49021 ## What it is and where Gokuraku-ji is a Shingon temple in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, which is Temple 2 of the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage (極楽寺). It has articles in 6 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Japan: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. It is in [Tokushima](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/tokushima/), where this site lists 69 more places to see, 11 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 34.15616, 134.49021; the nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX, Osaka), 76 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=34.15616%2C134.490212) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.15616%2C134.490212) 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 Gokuraku-ji is **February to May and October to November**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 58 | | February | Best time | 10 h 46 | | March | Best time | 11 h 45 | | April | Best time | 12 h 52 | | May | Best time | 13 h 47 | | June | Possible | 14 h 16 | | July | Possible | 14 h 04 | | August | Possible | 13 h 17 | | 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 16 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 - [四国遍路 1番札所霊山寺~2番札所極楽寺](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/1-2/): Hiking · 603 m - [Bandō prisoner-of-war camp](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/the-former-bando-pow-camp/): Japanese camp for German prisoners during World War I · 718 m - [四国遍路 2番札所極楽寺~3番札所金泉寺](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/2-3/): Hiking · 1.1 km - [Ryōzen-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/ryozen-ji/): Buddhist temple in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan · 1.2 km - [Konsen-ji](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/konsen-ji-3/): Shingon temple in Itano, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, which is Temple 3 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage · 2.2 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 Gokuraku-ji? It is a Shingon temple in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, which is Temple 2 of the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage (極楽寺 in the local language). It has articles in 6 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 Gokuraku-ji? February to May and October to November. In June there are 14 h 16 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 44. ### How do you get to Gokuraku-ji? The nearest main airport is Kansai International Airport (KIX), 76 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=34.15616%2C134.490212) 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 [四国遍路 1番札所霊山寺~2番札所極楽寺](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/1-2/), [Bandō prisoner-of-war camp](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/the-former-bando-pow-camp/), [四国遍路 2番札所極楽寺~3番札所金泉寺](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/2-3/). The rest is in [the Japan guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/japon/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/314743789), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1088485), CC0. More about Gokuraku-ji on [Wikipedia](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A5%B5%E6%A5%BD%E5%AF%BA_(%E9%B3%B4%E9%96%80%E5%B8%82)). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).