The things we should have left behind: Temples 17-18
Ruth: It’s strange to be on day five and be exactly where we started: in downtown Tokushima. The first 17 temples are in and around ... Read More
Henros: Temples 19-21
Ruth: Each morning we put on our white jackets and become two of the many Henros (pilgrims) making their way to the temples. Most henros ... Read More
Sky to Sea: Temple 22
Gordon: Yesterday I finished my walk at Temple 21. Located at the top of a mountain, it is known as the “Western Kōya-san” because of ... Read More
Sea Turtles in Hiwasa: Temple 23
Ruth: I have it easier than all the other henros on the route. Well, perhaps not the ones in the tour buses. I am sitting ... Read More
Slippers in Japan: No Temples Today
Ruth: I am determined to be as polite as I can be in Japan, but slipper etiquette continues to trip me up. At a minimum ... Read More
Gorogoro-ishi
The black dots in the water are surfers. Gordon: This is our first trip in Japan and we didn’t do sufficient reading in advance, so ... Read More
What is the Shikoku pilgrimage? (Temples 24 – 26)
Gordon: I recently realized that we have provided no background information regarding the Shikoku pilgrimage. It is a circuit of the island of Shikoku (the ... Read More
Passing the Spiritual Checkpoint: Temple 27
Gordon: Temple 27 is a henro-korogashi temple located near the top of a mountain and accessed by a spur road 3.2 kms in length. Ruth ... Read More
Tsunami Zone
Ruth: Except for our brief excursions up to the mountain temples, we spend much of our time here in Japan within the tsunami inundation zones. ... Read More
Golden Week: No Room at the Inn (Temples 28-30)
Ruth: On this pilgrimage each of the four prefectures that we pass through offers a different stage in spiritual development. Tokushima Prefecture is the place ... Read More