The 88 Temples
October 16th I fly to Japan to start my journey of the 88 Temples of Shikoku. A pilgrimage that spans the whole island of Shikoku, 800 miles or pavement, mountains and sea.
I will be walking most if not all the way. Which will take around 40-45 days.
Below is a map of Shikoku with the temples marked around the island. Most of the temples are associated with the Buddhist monk, Kōbō Daishi, who was born on the island.
Find out more about the Temples and things here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shikoku_Pilgrimage
and also here - https://shikoku-tourism.com/en/shikoku-henro/shikoku-henro
Map of Shikoku with the Temples - Link
Why the Journey?
I believe life is full of adventures and tests that help make us who we are. Sometimes though, you must seek those adventures and tests. For me the Shikoku pilgrimage is a personal test to see who I am and who I might become. It is a journey that will test me in different ways that many other experiences cannot. My aim is to learn more about my self and more about what might be out there.
why Now?
There are best times to do the pilgrimage, early spring or beginning of fall. This is to avoid the scorching heat or the brutal winters. I turned 28 this year and have been working for 5 years out of college. While the daily life is great, something kept nudging me in the back of my mind. It is like my life needed some sort of event, a corner stone that I could look back on and go “If I could do that, I can do anything”. I will be turning 30 in a couple of years and well, I am not getting any younger. For me, I feel that I need to take some time to think and really get to know myself, so that I can accelerate any success that might be before me. It is a long time relative to me, but I am excited to see what may happen. I have no expectations, I will keep myself open to all possibilities.
Good luck O-henro!
I will be updating this blog as best as I can through out my travels. Check back here and my instagram for new content.
Until next time! Safe travels!