First day as Pilgrims: Temples 1-5
Gordon: We had beautiful weather for our first day on the Shikoku 88 Temple pilgrimage. We made our way to Temple 1 under our own ... Read More
The Heart Sutra: Temples 6-11
Ruth: We diligently recite the Heart Sutra at every temple. Our guide book provides the Sutra in phonetic Japanese, but I think I stand a ... Read More
“Where a Pilgrim Falls Down” : Temple 12
Gordon: An elevation profile of the Shikoku pilgrimage looks like the ECG of the last few moments of a person’s life: mostly flat, but with ... Read More
Best Birthday Ever: Temples 13-16
Ruth: Today might just be my favourite birthday and it isn’t even noon yet. Not the manic, hyper-happy of some birthdays when I was young, ... Read More
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