planning shikoku pilgrimage

 

Differences with St james's Way The path: The GR65 in France is a nature hike bypassing all cities, Camino a wide gravel road through some towns. The Shikoku pilgrimage. Our 4-day tour is the easiest option, classified as ‘Active’. It is believed that the founder of Shingon (Esoteric) Buddhism in Japan, Kobo-Daishi (Kukai) (774-835CE) trained or spent time at many of these places, thus he plays a central role in this pilgrimage. Sponsored by Ehime Prefecture. This website is dedicated to those interested in learning more about the Shikoku Pilgrimage, and provides useful information to primarily walking pilgrims. Pockets of satoyama (里山), farm communities interwoven with the forests around them, are scattered around the mountains and valleys of Shikoku. Our Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage tours include carefully-selected sections of the ancient Pilgrimage trail. . Comparing the Camino de Santiago and the Shikoku Henro: Part Two. Walking is generally on quiet town and country roads, and unpaved forest trails. CHUGOKU TRAVEL started planning Pilgrimage trip over 20 years. The pilgrimage is also one of the few circular-shaped pilgrimages in the world. It also incorporates a red lamp that can be set to flash - perfect as a … A pilgrimage is an act of journeying through the entire Shikoku area based on the 88 sacred sites in Shikokus…. A Pilgrimage of Nature and Humanity. A journey of 1,142 km, this Shikoku (四国), meaning "four kingdoms," comprises four prefectures: Tokushima, Kōchi, Ehime, and Kagawa. OVERVIEW; Follow ancient paths around Japan's fourth largest island on this grand scale pilgrimage. ↓ Even my guidebook (well, one of them) has a hat-wearing, white-jacketed pilgrim … Just make sure you leave your sedge hat out so that passerby will know that you are a pilgrim. The Shikoku Pilgrimage (also referred to as the OHenro) is a magnificent pilgrimage to eighty-eight sacred temples dotted around the island of Shikoku, where it is said that Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai) [774—835] performed ascetic religious practices. For the locals, providing help or gifts to a pilgrim is a customary way to accumulate good will and to vicariously participate in the pilgrim's journey. The Shikoku pilgrimage (四国遍路) is a 1,200-year-old, 1,200km pilgrimage of 88 Buddhist temples located on the island of Shikoku, Japan. Supposedly, around 1,300 years ago the head monk of Hase-dera Temple, Tokudo [徳道], was trapped in a coma. Shikoku is seeped with natural beauty, colorful legend and history, and jeweled with 88 pilgrimage temples. How to Go ITINERARIES A 2-Day Pilgrimage in Shikoku Follow the path of esteemed Japanese Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi towards enlightenment Recommended length: 2 days Shikoku is best known for its 88 temples associated with Kukai, posthumously known as Kobo Daishi (774–835). Having become aware of … The lamp goes up to180 Lumens, which pretty bright. Do I Have to Speak Japanese Pilgrimage on Shikoku Island Like with any other endeavor, planning is the first step. Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp. Many of the locals in Shikoku are very supportive of individuals undertaking the pilgrimage, so sleeping in a sleeping bag in a park or rest area isn't shunned upon. The journey is an important way for laypeople to generate merit and deepen and intensify their Buddhist practice. Others make no plans, take no maps, learn none of the language, or anything else. How To Get There, Comparing the Camino de Santiago and the Shikoku Henro: Part One It takes 45 days on foot, 12 days by bicycle, and 10 days by car to visit the 88 temples in succession. To complete the full pilgrimage in order, one would begin from the first temple, travel to all 88 temples, and finally end their journey at the first temple. I’ve set up this blog to keep in touch with my peoples back home and am still learning the ins-and-out of the WordPress desktop app and the mobile app which I intend to post from while on the pilgrim trail. The Shikoku pilgrimage includes 88`official` temples and numerous other sacred sites where Kukai (Kobo Daishi) is believed to have trained or have spent time during the 9th Century. What Is The Pilgrimage? To complete the full pilgrimage … Many people imagine the Henro trail as some sort of nature walk, but in fact, the majority of the route follows busy roads. Video-diary of my second full circle OHenro. Dressed in traditional outfit, straw sandals and hat, beggars bowl, staff, etc. I only visited four of these, but I have done some research on the full list; you can see them all on TheTempleGuy.org. The History of Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage. Navigation. Most take the middle path and do something in between those two extremes. The Shikoku Pilgrimage (四国遍路, Shikoku Henro) or Shikoku Junrei (四国巡礼) is a multi … Each year, about 150,000 pilgrims from Japan and around the world embark on this spiritual journey to experience the rich cultures of Shikoku and reflect on the meaning of life. Why to Go Number 51 is the Ishiteji Temple, ... And if you are planning a trip to Shikoku, Japan, don’t forget to put Ehime on your bucket list. A waymarker from the early part of the pilgrimage shows the way to temple #2 Gokurakuji. The Shikoku Pilgrimage in Japan includes 88 temples that welcome and receive pilgrims. It was a hiking trip physically benefiting from some of the trails connecting the temples and forming the Shikoku Pilgrimage Walk while also trying to explore various cultural elements attached to the pilgrimage… . Waymarkers on the trail comes in a wide variety. In one day I received 3 oranges, an onigiri (triangle-shaped-rice snack), 2 bananas, a pair of slippers, 2 temple charms, a bath towel, 3 candies, many bows, a hug and was treated to lunch. It’s a 1,200 km route that largely follows the coast of Shikoku, although it does make some loops into the interior. Navigation on the Shikoku 88 Temples Pilgrimage is rarely a problem. While there are many pilgrimages in Japan such as Shikoku or Bando pilgrimages, the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage is the oldest pilgrimage and is celebrating 1,300 years as of 2018. The cities of Matsuyama, Tobe and Toon are waiting for you! More than 20 years in the making, Ian Reader’s book on the Shikoku pilgrimage is simply the best book in English on the subject. The Shikoku Henro Trail is traditionally a religious buddhist pilgrimage traversing 1200km and passing through 88 temples on the island of Shikoku, Japan. A pilgrimage can be quite an undertaking, requiring special planning and resources; for many it is the culmination of years of practice or a lifelong goal. If you are already on the go, you may find this comprehensive interactive map helpful for planning ahead. 1. As I’m not leaving until mid-March, I’m using … The path is very well marked, and in conjunction with the well-detailed maps in the guidebook you should have no trouble finding your way. So if you want to talk with lots of people on Shikoku, wearing pilgrim clothes is a great conversation starter. These periods include, not-coincidentally, Japan’s cherry blossom and autumn color seasons, but you don’t have to visit Shikoku for hanami or koyo in … My Approach. During the pilgrimage, we will dedicate sutras (by reading sutras, copying sutras, etc.) The Shikoku Pilgrimage, with its long history and great significance, is deeply engrained in the culture of the island. Wearing the white jacket signals to people that you are a pilgrim. Japan Heritage—Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. This will be the first leg of my two month pilgrimage through the 88 temples of Shikoku. Shikoku is also famous for its wide variety of citrus fruits, persimmons, peaches, and grapes. Planning a Trip to Japan? Others make no plans, take no maps, learn none of the language, or anything else. My Favorites . This blog details my pilgrimage to Shikoku during the Fall of 2011. 291 likes. The Shikoku Pilgrimage is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) on the island of Shikoku, Japan. However, it is not always necessary to visit the temples in order. In general, the best time to visit Shikoku is between the months of March-May and October-December. Shikoku takes great pride in the living cultural heritage of the Shikoku Henro Pilgrimage, which has been passed down through the ages as an integral part of the region. When to Go For the locals, providing help or gifts to a pilgrim is a customary way to accumulate good will and to vicariously participate in the pilgrim's journey. Like with any other endeavor, planning is the first step. There are often pavilions and benches in parks and rest areas designated to pilgrims. The pilgrimage is also one of the few circular-shaped pilgrimages in the world. The Shikoku Hachi-ju-ha Kasho or "88 Sacred Places of Shikoku" route is located on Shikoku, ... this pilgrimage has a full complement of 20 unnumbered temples beyond the 88 (and 20 + 88 = 108, a very sacred number in Indian religion). The Shikoku Pilgrimage, or Henro, is one of Japan’s best-known walks. . The 1200km/8week long pilgrimage route on the Japanese island of Shikoku. Shikoku is known for its distinctive landscape – rugged mountains running east and west divide the island, with the southern part facing the Pacific Ocean. Gyaku-uchi (逆打ち) is the way of completing the pilgrimage in reverse order, and is highly revered due to its increased difficulty. The Shikoku pilgrimage (also called “ Ohenro ”) consists of eighty-eight “official” temples and numerous other sacred sites located around the island of Shikoku. Although the pilgrimage is traditionally completed on foot, which takes around 30 to 60 days, modern means of transportation have become much more common today. 88 temple pilgrimage of Shikoku (650km). Kukai, founder of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. If you are unsure, ask a local whether it is okay to stay the night at a … Having said that, … From September to October, I walked the entire length of the Henro Trail. Planning for the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage; Day 25, Foncebadon to Ponferrada, 28.2km In fact, any headlamp is a necessity on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage Route is easy-to-access from our region Hiroshima. SHIKOKU PILGRIMAGE PLANNING. The SEO5 takes 3x AAA batteries, and they last quite a while. The 6-day and 10-day tours are ‘Strenuous’. I think it is obvious that the cost of this pilgrimage is going to vary widely depending on whether or not you are starting from a home in Japan or overseas, whether you stay at a minshuku each night or sleep outdoors, whether you walk it in two months, one month, or go around in some other way, etc. What to Take There is no way to say what this trip is going to cost each and every henro — we are all different. Shikoku island comprises the four prefectures of Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi. Shikoku pilgrimage is a journey covering a distance of approximately 1,200 km across four prefectures (Tokushima, Kochi, Ehime, and Kagawa). The Shikoku Pilgrimage, with its long history and great significance, is deeply engrained in the culture of the island. If you are planning on making the pilgrimage in Shikoku you will need one of the many guide books, but for background information this book is indispensable. Useful links for planning: Pilgrimage on Shikoku Island - information on temples, cost of pilgrimage and background; Interactive course maps - so helpful! Men and women of all ages have walked the pilgrimage trail for over 1,200 years. My trip down to Shikoku was not strictly related to the famous Shikoku Pilgrimage Walk (I provide a link to a wonderful blog in the tips section below, which is more helpful if you are planning to hike the entire route). When sleeping outdoors or other places with no electricity or lighting, it was handy to use, in particular when eating or doing other tasks that require both hands. Contact Us The Shikoku Henro World Heritage Inscription Council Office (Culture Promotion Division,Arts and Culture Bureau,Policy Planning Department, Kagawa Prefectural Government) 4-1-10 Bancho, Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa 760-8570 Some henro plan almost every step before even leaving home. What it Costs 1. at Sanmon (Niomon)At the gate (Niomon), go to the temple, bow, and enter within.…. Shikoku Henro spans all four regions, linking 88 temples associated with the monk Kukai (posthumously known as Kobo-Daishi), founder of the Shingon school of Buddhism and native of Shikoku. From Ryozenji to Gokurakuji, experience part of the pilgrimage route on foot, as you make your way along the 16th century route. The Shikoku pilgrimage, also known as the henro, is a Buddhist pilgrimage of 88 temples that run throughout Shikoku. to…. Shikoku is also famous for its wide variety of citrus fruits, persimmons, peaches, and grapes. If you are inclined to planning, here is what i think you need to think about as you plan your pilgrimage. Hi, I’m Bill and I’m planning a Spring of 2020 pilgrimage following the 88 Temple Pilgrimage circling the island of Shikoku in Japan, just over two months from now. Some henro plan almost every step before even leaving home.