Shusshakaji Temple, the 73rd sacred spot on the Shikoku Henro pilgrimage, is located at the foot of a mountain range consisting of five mountains. From the west, these mountains are Mt. Hiage, Mt. Naka, Mt. Gabaishi, Mt. Fudenoyama, and Mt. Koshiki.
According to documents from the early Edo Period nearly 330 years ago, there had been a pilgrimage temple on top of Mt. Gabaishi. However, because this building had completely decayed, the main hall and other buildings were built at the foot of the mountain, becoming the Shusshakaji Temple that we know today. The sanctuary of the temple, called Shashingadake Zenjo, which is a sacred place for meditation and ascetic practice, is built on top of Mt. Gabaishi.
　According to writings that document the history of Shusshakaji Temple, this area came to be called Shashingadake (Peak of Renouncing the World) because, when young Kobo Daishi (Kukai) studied the teachings of Buddhism at Mt. Gabaishi, he prayed that the people would have better lives, and then threw himself into the bottom of the valley, but was caught by a celestial maiden, and Gautama Buddha appeared, telling him he would be a Buddha in his lifetime. His wish was granted, and this place came to be known as Shashin-ga-Take ("Mountain of Risking One's Life for Others").
Afterwards, it is said that Kobo Daishi practiced asceticism on this mountain peak, where he also carved and enshrined a statue of Kokuzo Bosatsu (Akasagarbha Bodhisattva). There is the belief that worshiping here gives one a good memory, wards off forgetfulness, and helps one to achieve academic success.