【Japan Shikoku Hnero#6】Kochi’s Hidden Temples: A Journey Along the Shikoku Pilgrimage
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 32: Zenjibu-ji in Nankoku City, Kochi Prefecture. It’s a temple that prays for the safety
of ships sailing off the coast of Tosa. [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 Locally known as ‘Minenji,’ ‘Minedera,’ or ‘Mineji,’ this temple holds
a special place in the hearts of the people. It sits atop Mount Mine at an altitude of 82 meters,
offering breathtaking views. I’m feeling a bit sad knowing it will soon come to an end. Temple 31: Chikurin-ji in Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture. The entrance to the park,
which requires a sharp turn, was challenging. Please be cautious, as the path to the temple is a one-way road. The area is part of a park, and I saw many tourists. *The microphone is having issues,
so it may be hard to hear. The Treasure Hall houses 17 Buddhist statues
from the middle to late Heian and Kamakura periods, significant cultural assets from the time of the Fujiwara clan. The Chikurinji Garden, a nationally recognized
scenic spot, is also worth a visit. Temple 30: Zenraku-ji in Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture. This temple has a history of enduring the hardships of
the anti-Buddhist movement during the Meiji period. I saw a Jizo statue holding a baby for the first time. The temple staff were extremely kind. I’ll buy a ‘Shikoku 88 T-shirt’ as a souvenir! Temple 29: Kokubun-ji in Nankoku City, Kochi Prefecture. A temple located in an area famous for its beauty and livability,
once a hub of politics, economy, and culture in Tosa. Some temples have cafes designed for younger visitors. The temple was rebuilt by a father-and-son duo
of samurai warlords. The main hall had a unique roof design, and Tosa Kokubun-ji
Temple is associated with a famous poet from the Heian period. *The microphone is having issues,
so it may be hard to hear. Temple 28: Dainichi-ji in Konan City, Kochi Prefecture. This temple is known for healing ailments related to the head,
such as headaches, eye and ear issues, drawing many visitors. The seated statue of Dainichi Nyorai is
one of the largest in Shikoku, about 146 cm tall. Seasonal flowers bloom across the grounds,
offering a lovely natural view. I’m also planning to watch
a baseball game in the Shikoku Island League. There is a sacred camphor tree, linked to the founder. This sacred tree is believed to aid with
ailments of the head, eyes, nose, and ears. The slope is steep and challenging to reach… Temple 27: Kōnomine-ji in Yasuda Town, Kochi Prefecture. Located on Mount Kaminomine at an altitude of 450m,
this is the highest temple of the Kochi pilgrimage sites. The scenery along the path to the main hall is stunning. Be aware that there are cases where you can only receive it if you use a designated pilgrimage stamp book. Temple 26: Kongōchō-ji in Muroto City, Kochi Prefecture. The temple grounds, covered by the ancient forest of chinquapin trees, exude a sense of tranquility. Known as one of the temples of the Muroto Sanzan, it is also affectionately referred to as ‘Nishidera’ (the Western Temple). The main hall is large and impressive. Temple 25: Shinsho-ji in Muroto City, Kochi Prefecture. The main deity is the Kajitori Jizo, known for protecting those at sea
and having a history of averting fire disasters. The view of the Muroto Sea from the main hall is breathtaking. Temple 24: Hotsumisaki-ji in Sukumo City, Kochi Prefecture. The first spiritual site in Tosa, known as a ‘training dojo’
where the young Kobo Daishi practiced. It is indeed a challenging long-distance journey by bike. I wanted to take photos but accidentally left my smartphone behind. This temple was regarded as a
‘dojo of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism,’ had been restricted to men
only until it was opened to women in 1872. I have now visited the 24th temple, Hotsumisaki-ji. This is the last temple for today, and I have completed all the temples in Kochi Prefecture! It seems some people have made
over 100 pilgrimages to all 88 temples. Sightseeing. Aki City, Kochi Prefecture. Unfortunately, I couldn’t eat the gold-eye snapper. The clock tower, handmade from gears to weights,
has been a beloved ‘farmers’ clock,’ allowing people to check the time
from afar, even during agricultural work. Its retro Western-style design was truly wonderful! Going to watch a baseball game. Kochi City Baseball Stadium, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture. I watched a game of the Kochi Fighting Dogs,
one of the Shikoku Island League teams. Many players have ties to the Hanshin Tigers. There seemed to be more spectators than usual,
with over 800 people enjoying the game. It was coincidentally Beer 99 Yen Day! I bought a Kochi Fighting Dogs cap, and since I also DJ, I want to wear it while performing. There are various events during the innings, and there was
even a traditional ‘Yosakoi’ dance, which is typical of Kochi! I used the jet balloon I received at the entrance
to participate in a balloon toss! I hope to become a sponsor next year. After the game, the players send us off. I will definitely visit again! Summary I traveled from Kochi City to Muroto. I returned because I wanted to see the Kochi Fighting Dogs,
which meant quite a long ride. The spiritual sites in Yasuda Town and Muroto are
at a higher elevation, so it took a bit longer to arrive. Next time, I want to visit early
and try the gold-eye snapper rice bowl!
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.
This Shikoku pilgrimage took me to the eastern side of Kochi Prefecture, temples #32 to #24.
I was overwhelmed by the magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean on the eastern side of Kochi Prefecture. Many of the temples have been blessed with prayers for safe voyages and abundant catches of fish.
My goal today was to reach Cape Muroto at the southern tip of Kochi Prefecture.
Many of the temples are located in the mountains at high elevations, and I had to climb up desperately on my Super Cub.
After completing the entire journey through Kochi Prefecture without incident, I went to an independent league baseball game that night to watch the “Kochi Fighting Dogs” play.
It happened to be a 100 yen beer day, so many fans were there.
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.