Day 3: Temples 11 – 12 If this was a bike race, this would be the kings stage – three tops at 626m, 745m and 706m and three tough downward ascents. All in all 24km, where pretty much 12km are uphill and 12km downhill. I was up at 6.30, breakfasted (they had cornflakes today!) and on the 8.12 train for Kamojima,…
Day 2: Temples 6 – 10 I slept well, and only woke once during the night, which was not due to the earthquake that hit Japan and could be felt here. Breakfast was Japanese, so I’m going to have to get used to eating rice and pickled fish for breakfast. Something I would otherwise eat at dinner back home. I caught…
Day 1: Temples 1 – 5 Today wasn’t supposed to be a walking day, but a settling in day. However, upon arriving in Tokushima, I went straight to the hotel to check-in. But when official check-in time is 14.00, it doesn’t help that you’ve just flown in from HEL and have barely slept, when it’s only 12.45! I left my bag…
Day 0: Copenhagen to Tokushima It’s Sunday morning and I am sitting on a bus, just leaving Osaka Airport. Itโs sunny, but windy. Along the coast there are windsurfers and a baseball match. Sitting here, looking out, this could just as well be the US – highways and highrises. Lene drove me to the airport, we left home at 11am,…
Temple etiquette There are a number of steps one should follow when visiting a temple. These steps are recommended, but not compulsory. At the main gate (to ward of evil spirit’s): Stand on the left hand side of the gate, put your hands togeter, and bow once. At the wash basin (to purify oneself): Wash yopur hands…
Nรตkyรตchรต and Osame-fuda The stamp book or Nรตkyรตchรต is your proof that you have indeed visited each of the 88 temples. After worshiping at the temple, one takes it to the office and to have it signed and stamped. It costs 300 yen (2,3 โฌ) per temple. Name slips, or osame-fuda, are slips on which you write your name…
Pilgrim Attire You don’t have to use any of the attire, but you will be recognised as a pilgrim if you wear the white vest. Sugegasa – the wedge hat, that is useful for blocking the sun, or raingear. Kongozue – the staff, you take Kรตbรต Dashi with you when you carry the stock, and in return he…
Shikoku 88 temple route Shikoku literally means “four provincesโ and the pilgrim’s journey through the four provinces is considered to be a symbolic path to enlightenment. The theme of the Tokushima province (temples 1โ23) is Awakening; the Kลchi province (temples 24โ39) is Ascetic training; the Ehime province (temples 40โ65) is Enlightenment; and the Kagawa province (temples 66โ88) is Nirvana. The temples are primarily situated along the…
