But this one opens the mind on a grand scale. Reading some the blogs and Facebook groups covering the pilgrimage, it appears that I and other walking henro could benefit a little from the current situation. During the preparation phase for the first week, which was mainly focused on picking the most scenic trails, I greatly benefited from wonderful blogs such as Random Wire providing a great account of the full pilgrimage walk around Shikoku covering all 88 Temples. The Shikoku Henro, or 88 Temple Pilgrimage, is one of the oldest pilgrimages in the world and continues to attract pilgrims from Japan and abroad. Shikoku 88 Temples Pilgrimage. I am 77 years old. Reflections from the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Japanese Version Here - 日本語のブログはこちら When I set out to do the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage I didn’t know what to expect. Now, after a rejuvenating double valve operation, I felt ready to venture on a new route. Wayne figures fewer than 1000 people per year walk, and he and Jason rarely met other walking pilgrims. Old and young, Japanese and foreign, Shikoku’s pilgrims (henro) pass by in their traditional white robes, nodding in hello or exchanging a friendly “ganbatte” as they go. Walking The Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage in October 2017. Here >> Online Henro Forums Discuss what you want when you want: Henro-san on Facebook or Henro Forum. In recent years, the Shikoku pilgrimage has become very popular. If you compare this pilgrimage to the Camino in Spain, these are the albergues of the Shikoku 88 Temples Pilgrimage (although private). The Shikoku Pilgrimage. It's been a couple of weeks since my amazingly wonderful walk along the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage path. At first, it was curiosity of what would happen, a and a good portion of interest in Shingon Buddhism, to which Reiki Healing is closely related. Our 88 Temples and Mt. Large numbers of pilgrims still undertake the journey for … Actually, I might have to rescind my assertion that Kochi is the most beautiful city I write about in this Shikoku blog: Matsuyama, the largest city of Ehime Prefecture, is pretty darned beautiful, particularly the coastal view you enjoy from atop Matsuyama Castle. For instance, in 1931, Alfred Bohner, a German, wrote a book about the henro titled Two on a Pilgrimage: The 88 Holy Places of Shikoku. Physically, culturally, and spiritually, the Shikoku Pilgrimage permeates the body, mind, and soul. Koya. In October 2016 I completed my 6th walk on the Camino de Santiago. Still one of my favourites, and definitely the one that took the most effort to prepare. Temple 6, Anraku-ji (安楽寺), is approximately 16.5 kilometres from Temple 1, Ryōzen-ji (霊山寺), and is where many people stay for their first night when embarking on the Shikoku pilgrimage. A blog recording my journey through Shikoku, following in the footsteps of Kõbõ Dashi and visiting 88 temples. It's a collection of wisdom from previous pilgrims. Shikoku Henro Blog Gear List Contact My Journey. The Shikoku Pilgrimage. That should be plenty of time, we think. One of the guests of the place where I worked had come there just after he finished Shikoku’s Pilgrimage or Shikoku Ohenro as Japanese people call it. Foreigners have been interested in the henro for a very long time. The Shikoku pilgrimage is one of the oldest in the world and the history of ohenro is said to date back to more than 1,000 years ago. Posted on March 21, 2014; by Tony McNicol; in From the Archives; This – believe it or not – was the first article I ever wrote about Japan. The Shikoku pilgrimage – a tradition of charitable giving. The Shikoku pilgrimage route dates back to the 9 th century when the founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, Kōbō Daishi, established the route of the 88 temples that are spread across the four provinces of the island of Shikoku in western Japan. I already made some purchases from online web sites in Japan specializing in supplies for the Shikoku pilgrimage, but I made a few small purchases from the shop. Likeminded pilgrims walk sections of the 1200km circular route to visit the 88 temples, following in the footsteps of Kukai (known posthumously as Kobo Daishi), the founder of Shingon Buddhism in Japan. I was disappointed that I only had time to complete it by car, and that I … Ehime Prefecture. I believe all travel is life-changing, sometimes in small ways and sometimes in big ways. As I write this blog entry, I am sitting at the Tokushima airport Gate 4 waiting for my long journey back to Canada. Bad Pilgrims. Following in the footsteps of Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi (774-835) who apparently achieved enlightenment on Shikoku, and founded one of Japan’s three main schools of Buddhism, Shingon (the other two being Zen and Pure Land), pilgrims, known as henro, make the mammoth journey of 1400km, visiting all 88 temples, in around two months or so. HI, good to find your blog. Seven weeks, 1200 kilometres - one amazing adventure of a lifetime. Shikoku Pilgrimage: A Guide For Non-Japanese A wonderful (free) e-book introducing every aspect of the pilgrimage; by Naoyuki Matsushita, auther of Shikoku Japan 88 Route Guide. Blog; USD EUR AUD ... and the allure of the ancient Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage that regularly draws visitors from around the world. I walked part of the henro trail as part of an improvised 30-day walk through Shikoku in 2008. There's not much information out there about this walk, only one guidebook in English which is really just road maps, but it is an amazing adventure and I'd love to spread the word about it. A Solitary Pilgrimage. Have BOOK, will travel. “Shikoku-Henro,” “Shikoku-Junrei” or “Shikoku-Hachijuuhachi-kasho” is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai (Koubou-Daishi), on the island of Shikoku, Japan. The Best of the Shikoku Pilgrimage - 12 Day Itinerary. They can do it by bus, by car, by bicycle or walking. There are 88 temples along Shikoku’s famous henro pilgrimage route, and it stretches along about 1,200 kilometers. hello, I did round the shikoku island by cycle sticking to the small coast roads; 1) the romantic documentary or books about the shikoku pilgrimage you're full off are deceiptives: forget the beautifull walk through ages old roads in beautifull landscapes: most of the pilgrims road today is along heavilly traffic run road with a lot of pollution and noise Blog. Upon arriving at each temple they carry out a prayer ritual and collect a stamp in a special book (納経帳 nōkyō-chō).. Spend 1-2 days of your Shikoku itinerary in Kochi Prefecture. A daily account of walking the shikoku 88. A number of tour bus companies have cancelled their Spring schedules, lowing the potential crowds at the temples. Author The Silent Path: Shikoku Pilgrimage Posted on November 2, 2017 November 5, 2017 Leave a comment on The Silent Path…Shikoku Pilgrimage Search for: Search Subscribe to Blog via Email Shikoku 88 Temples Pilgrimage. Established over 1,200 years ago, the route takes in all four prefectures of Shikoku passing through quaint towns and rural pockets of the island. Shikoku 88 pilgrimage This bike is getting a ticket for parking outside a bike park Well, we made the ride from Osaka to Wakayama ok, although neither of us were feeling that well. The ‘O’ character is an honorific, a prefix used to add an air of importance to a word. My husband, my son and I are in a fast food store in Tokushima on the island of Shikoku, about to embark on a pilgrimage to the eighty-eight Buddhist temples which ring the island. “The Camino was a much more social thing,” he said. The discovery of your blog happened at just the right time for me, and I have already drawn a lot of encouragement from it. Shikoku Tours offers unique tours with a focus on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Pilgrims embark on this journey to honour Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi, credited for founding Shingon Buddhism. Shikoku Henro. As we only have three weeks we plan to cycle. The word ‘ henro ’ simply translates to ‘pilgrimage’ and is generally used for any pilgrimage. Spend almost one month on the Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage.I started the pilgrimage on October, 5th in Naruto, and reached Mount Koya back in Wakayama, Honshu on October 31st. I will not be walking the whole 1.200 km, but I do plan to visit all 88 temples. I enjoyed using the onsen at 6 am, which also has a … So, starting April 8th 2018, my plan is to follow the route of Kõbõ Dashi, accredited with founding the Shikoku pilgrimage. The Best of Shikoku Pilgrimage tour visits only the most scenic and impressive temples, as well as some other sites associated with Kukai. The official name of the Shikoku Pilgrimage in Japanese is Shikoku Henro. Completing the entire thing by foot takes six weeks! Traveling temples in only one prefecture (Shikoku is divided in to four prefectures) is called ITTKOKU-MAIRI（一国参り）, Also there is BETTKAKU-20KASYO MEGURI (別格20か所巡り) which there are 20 other temples in addition to the 88 “official” temples of the pilgrimage. Well, long time no news from me. Most Japanese henro do the pilgrimage in bus tours. I walked the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Japan at the end of last year and have finally uploaded all the details onto my blog here. March 2, 2017 Eifuku-ji (“Temple of Good Luck”) is number 57 on the 88-temple Shikoku O-Henro (pilgrimage).  The pilgrimage is strongly associated with Kobo Daishi (弘法大師) (also known as Kukai), a notable Buddhist monk in the 9 th century. If you are considering doing the Shikoku Pilgrimage, all you really need to do is buy this book. Pilgrims are known as o-henro-san (お遍路さん) and traditionally wear a sedge hat, white shirt and carry a wooden staff. This was early in my second pilgrimage — Day 3 — and I was walking in the conventional (clockwise) direction. A long list of items is needed for the pilgrimage, and I will cover that in later blogs. These includes various guesthouses, but most common is a minshuku or a ryokan. The 88 Temple pilgrimage was much quieter than the Camino Francés, which Wayne walked the following year. To complete this pilgrimage, the pilgrim is supposed to visit all 88 temples that go around the island and cover a total distance of 1200km. This pilgrimage usually takes six to eight weeks to walk. Sources and Books About Shikoku Pilgrimage Route. I’m finally getting around to blogging about it pretty soon & without my journals (they’re in America, I’m in Brisbane – long story) was having a hard time matching pictures to temples. June 30, 2016 Elizabeth Mueller . However, for the experience of being a henro, choosing the traditional guesthouses used by the pilgrims are recommended. I began to consider the Shikoku Pilgrimage. I wrote about the 1200km I walked to complete the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage. Most Singaporeans may not know it, but Shikoku is most famous for this 1,200km pilgrimage circuit that circles the entire island, with 88 temples in between. In fact, 100 foreigners from about twenty countries spent a night here in 2013 and 2014. Koya tour visits all of the pilgrimage temples, as well as the headquarters that Kukai built on Mt. Goodbye Oz, Hello … Picture of the Month [April] [Archives] The view from my room at the New Sunpia Hotel this morning was amazing.