Sairin-ji is temple 48 on the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage, set in the eastern side of Matsuyama. It is a quieter stop than Ishite-ji, but that makes it easier to notice the small details of the pilgrimage route: white-clad henro, temple stamps, bells, and the rhythm of arrival and departure.
A local legend links the temple's spring water to Kobo Daishi striking the ground with his staff during a drought. The water and the streamside approach give Sairin-ji a calm, practical holiness that fits well into a day following Matsuyama's pilgrimage sites.