Japan 2018
Komano Kodo and Koyasan
After visiting all 88 temples, and a dash across Shikoku to purchase a tile statue of Kobe Dashi, I travelled to the main island of Japan, Honshu. More specifically the Kii Peninsula – just under Osaka and Kyoto. Based in Wakayama I spent a week walking the Kumano Kodo, visiting Koyasan, where Kobe Daishi is believed to have died (or is resting!) and visiting Wakayama, the areas largest city.
Follow my day-by-day account via the blog I wrote whilst walking, and experience with me, what a fantatstic place the Kii peninsula is, with beautiful landscapes, fantastic temples and amazing people and hospitality.
Day 33: Kumano Kodo May 10, 2018 Just south of Wakayama is another pilgrimage, much shorter than the Shikoku pilgrimage - in fact less than 70 km - but with a number of pretty heavy climbs. The pilgrimage is similar to the Camino as there are many walkers from many countries, not least around the three spiritual sites on the route. It… Read more >
Day 34: Kumano Kodo May 12, 2018 Day 2 on the Kumano Kodo didn’t result in a lot of walking, but a lot of beautiful sights. Anybody going to Japan and not taking in the Kii peninsular, is making a big mistake. The nature is not quite as extraordinary as southern Shikoku, but it is close, and based on the three shrines… Read more >
Day 35: Japanese breakfast May 12, 2018 Finally on day 35, I had no choice, it was either Japanese breakfast or no breakfast. I half expected breakfast to be a set menu when they wanted to know what time I would be eating breakfast, so I wasn’t that surprised to find rice, fish, a half boiled egg in vinegar, seaweed, various pickled… Read more >
Day 36: Koyasan May 13, 2018 Koyasan is the center of Buddhist study and practice and founded by Kobo Daishi in 816. Koyasan was chosen as he wanted a monastery in the mountains, far from worldly distractions, a place where Buddhist monks could concentrate upon practicing and praying for peace and welfare of the people. It is situated at 900m in… Read more >
Day 37: Ceremonies in Koyasan and hidden temples and shrines May 14, 2018 My alarm was set for 6.00 and I was ready for the two Bhuddist ceremonies at 6.30 and 7.00. The first was for my ancestors and started by us all, in turn, burning incense - first bowing, the taking the incense from the pot, lifting it to your forehead and putting it on the incense… Read more >
Day 38: Off to Tokyo and Conclusion May 15, 2018 I write this final blog post sitting on the train to Shin-Osaka, on my way to Tokyo Narita airport where I will stay tonight before meeting my daughter for my final week in Japan. The train to Osaka left at 12.49, so I had a free morning to visit the Wakayama Museum of Modern Art,… Read more >