I had one scene saw while at Japan (few years back), from Osaka to Koyasan, people dress in pilgrimage dress in old fashion, take the same train like us, and then cable car, and bus to visit temples in Koyasan. See the photo I snap at that time.
Actually I saw more people in this way of dressing while at Koyasan. From there later on understanding what they are really doing. As a popular pilgrimage destination for centuries, Koyasan. I start to reading on the legendary the Buddhist monk Kūkai (空海), also known posthumously as Kōbō-Daishi (弘法大師 The Grand Master Who Propagated the Buddhist Teaching), 774–835, was a Japanese Buddhist monk, civil servant, scholar, poet, and artist who founded the Shingon or “True Word” school of Buddhism. Shingon followers usually refer to him by the honorific title of Odaishisama (お大師様)and the religious name of Henjō-Kongō (遍照金剛).
Since then, I always want to travel to Shikoku and try out the Shikoku Pilgrimage (四国遍路 Shikoku Henro) or Shikoku Junrei (四国巡礼) is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) on the island of Shikoku, Japan.
Off course, I may not had that time for travel and visit all one round, but experiencing it by selective few temples myself on this coming 7th trip to Japan with my wife.
Shikoku region, if you ask me, the truly unique travel experience in my mind, for sure it is Shikoku Pilgrimage. Off course the land full of landscape, culture and things to see and explore, but Shikoku pilgrimage will be in top of my mind.
At the end of Shikoku regional trip, will extend at Kyoto visit Tō-ji (東寺 Tō-ji) (East Temple) is a Buddhist temple of the Shingon sect in Kyoto, Japan. Tō-ji is often associated with Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai).
Kukai’s legacy is huge. It includes the Shikoku Pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with his life in his birthplace of Shikoku, attempted by hundreds of pilgrims (henro) each year.
Look forward for the spiritual journey for this round of re visit Japan and discovery more.
