【Japan Shikoku Hnero#8】Pilgrimage Journey is Final, Heading to the 88 Temples for Full Prayer!
Starting my pilgrimage to the 88 temples of Shikoku. Toshi-uchi: Visiting all 88 temples in one go.
Kugiri-uchi: Splitting the pilgrimage over multiple trips. This is my first pilgrimage, and I will do the “Saka-uchi” and “Toshi-uchi.” Temple 16: Kan-on-ji in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture. A temple seamlessly blending into the historic townscape features an imposing double-layered bell tower gate in Japanese style, preserving the nostalgic atmosphere of the past. [How to Worship on the Pilgrimage]
Bow at the gate / Ring the bell / Purify your hands and mouth
Pray / Offer one candle and three incense sticks [How to Worship on the Pilgrimage]
Offer your name slip and a monetary donation / Chant the sutras Temple 15: Kokubun-ji in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture. Each of the four prefectures in the Shikoku pilgrimage hosts its own ‘Kokubun-ji’ temple, with Tokushima’s known as “Awa Kokubun-ji. Within the temple grounds,
ruins such as a seven-story pagoda exude a unique presence among
the sacred sites of the Shikoku pilgrimage. It seems that they practice Zen meditation on YouTube! Temple 14: Joraku-ji in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture. The garden of flowing rocks at
this temple soothes the hearts of visitors. This temple is the only site on
the Shikoku pilgrimage with Maitreya as the principal deity. There was someone offering the sounds
of the flute and shakuhachi as a dedication. This garden, showcasing the natural beauty
of flowing rock formations, is a must-see! *Due to microphone issues, please enjoy with background music. Temple 13: Dainichi-ji in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture. Dainichi-ji enshrines a statue of
the Eleven-Faced Kannon as its principal deity. I received the stamp from Temple 13, Dainichi-ji. The grounds also house the former “Awa Ichinomiya” Shrine,
adding historical significance as an original sacred site of the pilgrimage.
The horses within the grounds were exceptionally majestic! I am paying my respects properly. *Due to microphone issues, please enjoy with background music. Temple 12: Shosan-ji in Kamiyama Town, Tokushima Prefecture. Known as Tokushima’s most difficult path,
the temple is called ‘Henro Korogashi.’ The temple is situated on Mount Tairyūji at an altitude of 938m,
the second highest among the pilgrimage’s mountain temples. It wasn’t much of a challenge to get there
since you can now drive all the way up to the mountain top! Temple 11: Fujii-dera in Yoshinogawa City, Tokushima Prefecture. A grand temple once flourishing
as a center of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism and known for its seven main structures
stands out for its majestic scale. I mistakenly took a detour here,
adding an extra 24 km to my journey. Temple 10: Kirihata-ji in Awa City, Tokushima Prefecture. A temple with a legend related to a maiden weaving. It is said that ‘Kōbō Daishi rests under the bridge,’
so visitors are advised not to use a cane on the temple’s bridge. It is said that ‘Kōbō Daishi rests under the bridge,’
so visitors are advised not to use a cane on the temple’s bridge. The temple’s stamp office was extremely crowded. *The audio may be difficult to hear due to microphone issues. Temple 9: Horin-ji in Awa City, Tokushima Prefecture. Referred to as Hakujazan Hōrin-ji,
this grand temple is the only one on the Shikoku pilgrimage with
a Recling Budda as its principal image. The water basin was decorated with autumn leaves. “Udon Tei Ryokan Yawata” is
often seen during pilgrimages in Tokushima. I wish I had time to try their food. Temple 8: Kumadani-ji in Awa City, Tokushima Prefecture. Kumadani-ji features the largest deva gate
on the Shikoku pilgrimage, greeting visitors at its entrance. The deva gate inside the temple, a designated cultural asset of Tokushima Prefecture, was built in 1687. It features a grand structure blending Japanese and Chinese architectural styles, with a width of 9m and a height of 12.3m. This is not the main gate, but the inner gate. Temple 7: Juraku-ji in Awa City, Tokushima Prefecture. The temple named with the wish of
gaining the ten lights and radiant pleasures. They also run a lodging!
In front of the main hall, to the left, there is a Jizo statue believed to have spiritual powers
for curing eye diseases and improving vision. There was also a ‘severing ties’ gate, similar to one I saw in Kyoto. This temple is the only one
where the offering fee remained at 300 yen. *From 2024, the offering fee will rise from 300 yen to 500 yen. Temple 6: Anraku-ji in Kamiita Town, Tokushima Prefecture. Anraku-ji is considered the first temple
in Shikoku to establish a lodging for pilgrims, and the main hall’s worship hall has
carvings depicting the life story of Kōbō Daishi. The temple offers a very atmospheric lodging. Temple 5: Jiso-ji in Itano Town, Tokushima Prefecture. In 821, Kōbō Daishi founded the temple by imperial order,
and it is famous for its ‘500 Rakan Hall,’ which displays nearly 200 life-size statues of arhat. The main hall is currently undergoing repairs. Sightseeing Awa Odori Hall in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture. The Awa Odori Hall at the foot of Mt. Bizan is
a popular spot where you can enjoy Awa Odori every day. People of all ages, from children to adults,
can enjoy various dances! The full performance lasts about 50 minutes, and spectators can
participate, with awards for those who dance well. I would love to see another ‘famous troupe’s performance’ soon! “Dining bar NAMAIKI” in Tokushima City. After craving meat, I went alone to ‘Namakai’ for a drink. The yukhoe (raw beef) was excellent! Temple 4: Dainichi-ji in Itano Town, Tokushima Prefecture. A sacred site quietly standing in the mountains,
with the Great Sun Buddha as its principal deity. Unlike other temples, it had a somewhat unique bell. The temple’s buildings are situated along
a gentle slope at an altitude of about 70m, surrounded by nature,
creating a beautiful and serene environment! Three temples remain! Temple 3: Konsen-ji in Itano Town, Tokushima Prefecture. A sacred site where you can see the ‘Golden Well’ and
the ‘Benkei’s Strength Stone,’ which are believed to bring longevity. The ‘Benkei’s Strength Stone,’ believed to
have been used by the samurai for testing their strength, is a popular spot for pilgrims
and evokes a sense of history and legend! It can often be seen at other temples as well! Temple 2: Gokuraku-ji in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture. A spacious garden that evokes the image of the Pure Land. It is said that the 42-year-old Kobo Daishi
recited the ‘Amitabha Sutra’ for 37 days here. The sacred tree ‘Chomeisugi,’ over 1200 years old,
stands about 31m tall and has a circumference of about 6m! After climbing the 44 stone steps, you reach the main hall. I received the second Gokurakuji temple.
(The microphone wasn’t working…) Temple 1: Ryozen-ji in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture. The place where the pilgrimage began. It is also the place where the teachings of
‘Two People Together’ spread. Pilgrims can prepare their attire
and mindset here, and at the donation office, they can purchase essential items for the pilgrimage! This marks the end of the 88-temple pilgrimage! Later visit to Mount Koya. After completing the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage, it is customary for pilgrims to head to
Mount Koya to report the completion and express gratitude! The design of Gokuraku Bridge Station,
with its ceiling and station building, is beautiful! From here, you take a cable car to Koyasan Station. The 800m-long (328m altitude difference) journey
takes about 5 minutes. Mount Koya Okunoin: Koya Town, Wakayama Prefecture. The atmosphere here is quite different from the previous temples. Beyond the bridge leading to the last main hall,
photography is prohibited, and it is said that Kobo Daishi comes to
send off pilgrims as far as the Ichinohashi! I waited more than 30 minutes to make my offering. Bonus content. At the ‘Prayer Equipment Store’ located right in front of Temple 6,
you can have the religious items used in the pilgrimage incinerated! I had my Kongōzō (pilgrim’s staff) incinerated for 1000 yen!
They also send a report with photos or videos later! The 10-day pilgrimage is complete.
At first, I was confused by the unfamiliar rituals, but as time passed, I became so absorbed that
I wanted to chant the Heart Sutra as quickly as possible. The roughly 1,500 km journey by motorcycle was quite hard, but there were many moments
where the mobility of the bike helped. If I have another chance, I would like to visit in the correct order. Finally, at the Okunoin on Mount Koya,
where I went to report the completion, I felt a sense of peace, as if I had returned home. I hope you all experience the pilgrimage in a way that suits you!
I would be very happy if this video was helpful in any way. Thank you for watching ‘My First Pilgrimage’!
※You can watch this video with English subtitles by pressing the subtitle button.
A pilgrimage to 88 temples spread across the four prefectures of Shikoku in Japan is called a “henro.” I rented a Super Cub and made the 1,300 km pilgrimage over a period of 10 days.
My pilgrimage is finally reaching its final destination, Reizan-ji Temple. This time, I will visit the remaining 16 temples in Tokushima.
I visited the temples over two days. In addition to visiting the temples, I had the chance to see the Awa Odori dance and fully enjoy the nightlife in Tokushima!
After completing the 88 temples pilgrimage, I headed to the inner sanctuary of Koyasan in Wakayama to pray for the successful completion of my journey.
The Shikoku Pilgrimage of 88 temples and full prayers at the World Heritage Site of Koyasan Okuno-in. Please enjoy the finale of this 10-day tour!
I hope you will subscribe to our channel and comment on our 8-part pilgrimage video!
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Shikoku Henro(pilgrimage) series
#1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v47q12yexE
#2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfkR0GlHsaw
#3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU4v3iTGFsI
#4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddNVTDZlIMI
#5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe-rYSCnlyQ
#6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4p1Pu8tS1c
#7 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAu-qvfCtG4
#8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYRHzyJuPPs
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Thank you for watching. English subtitles are available for this video.