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The Shikoku pilgrimage is still one of the best experiences I've had in Japan. The hospitality, generosity, and respect you encounter along the route, not to mention all the people you get to meet, are so unique.
Likewise, I walked the Shikoku pilgrimage earlier this year and found it an amazing experience which I can't stop thinking about. My journal is here for anyone who's interested: https://henro.co/journal/
I walked it this year as well, about 20 days before you it seems. I've started reading your journal, it's great. I found a picture of a woman who gave me a mikan and told me "when you are hot, it will exist" on Day 5, she was lovely.

It was one of the best things I've ever done.

Returning to the real world, work was a bit of a struggle. The charity and spirit of giving and receiving was incredible.

http://wasaking.com/ for my diary

Thanks for sharing Marc, I'm looking forward to reading through this!
Thank you for linking. I never knew of the pilmigrage but now am driven to do it after reading the blog.
Hi Alex,

I already had it in my mind. I did El Camino el Santiago last year, and I want to travel abroad this time (I'm Spaniard). Did you do the full way or just some weeks? Do you remember any good website/guides to prepare it? Any way of contacting you?

thanks!

I walked it this year and found http://www.shikokuhenrotrail.com/ is a great site for information, particularly about the individual temples. It has a forum as well where you can ask questions.

It took me 50 days but I did 20 extra temples and had a few diversions (some intentional, some not).

You can find my contact details on my journal http://wasaking.com/introduction/

Marc

I lived in Tokushima for a year and my advice is to make sure you avoid summer (15 June - 15 Sept) the weather is insanely hot and humid. Wikipedia says the trek should take 30-60 days so starting around April 15 might be about right.
> Sociologists have talked about the “privatisation” of faith in the west, a shift from unified religions towards people concocting their own versions of spirituality in the same way they assemble their wardrobes. It has been lamented as an antisocial byproduct of too much individualism.

I never really got why this is supposed to be a bad thing, except for powerful people that set the dogmas of religions.

We live along this route and have hosted several pilgrims. Stop by to say hello if you decide to do it.