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| 88 Temple Pilgrimage | |
|---|---|
| Name | 88 Temple Pilgrimage |
| Location | Shikoku, Japan |
| Established | c. 8th century |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Sect | Shingon Buddhism |
| Founder | Kūkai |
| Sites | 88 |
| Length km | ~1400 |
| Season | Year-round |
88 Temple Pilgrimage The 88 Temple Pilgrimage is a circular religious route around Shikoku in Japan connecting eighty-eight Buddhist temples associated with the monk Kūkai and the Shingon tradition. Pilgrims, known as ohenro, follow a route linking coastal towns, mountain passes, and urban centers, drawing participants from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka as well as international visitors from Seoul, Beijing, Taipei, and Vancouver. The pilgrimage intersects with cultural sites like Matsuyama Castle, Ishite-ji Temple, Ritsurin Garden, and festivals such as the Awa Odori and the Shinmachi Festival.
The pilgrimage encircles the island of Shikoku and is commonly described in guidebooks by publishers such as Lonely Planet, Michelin Guide, and Lonely Planet Japan. It is promoted by regional agencies including the Ehime Prefecture tourism board, Kagawa Prefecture cultural affairs, and the Tokushima Prefecture heritage office. Pilgrims follow waymarkers erected by municipal governments, religious organizations like the Shingon-shu, and local temple associations; modern resources include maps by Google Maps, apps by Apple Inc., and information from the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Origins trace to the 9th century monk Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) and correspond to the spread of Esoteric Buddhism in Japan, linked to interactions with Tang dynasty China and pilgrimage traditions exemplified by routes like the Shinto shrine circuits of Honshu. During the Edo period, the pilgrimage expanded via accommodation networks run by temple lodgings and honjin style inns; travelers recorded journeys in travelogues by authors associated with Matsuo Bashō and Hiroshige. Modernization under the Meiji Restoration and policies affecting Shinto–Buddhism relations altered temple administration, while postwar recovery involved reconstruction funded by entities including the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan) and private foundations such as the Nippon Foundation.
The route comprises eighty-eight principal temples plus auxiliary sites like the forty-nine provincial sites and the Henro-michi paths connecting them. Notable temples include Ryozen-ji, Gokuraku-ji, Kongofuku-ji, Ishite-ji, Tairyū-ji, Anraku-ji, Konzō-ji, and Zentsū-ji, each affiliated with Shingon lineages and pilgrimage registers maintained by temple offices. The course traverses municipalities such as Matsuyama, Takamatsu, Tokushima (city), Kōchi (city), and rural districts like Niyodogawa, Mugi, Kotohira, and Sukumo. Transport nodes include stations on the JR Shikoku network, ferries linking Honshu ports like Okayama and Kure, and highways administered by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Pilgrims perform rituals at each site: chanting the Heart Sutra, offering incense at main halls like the Hondō, and collecting calligraphic stamps called nokyo-chō from temple offices. Devotional customs reference figures including Kūkai, Jizō Bosatsu, Dainichi Nyorai, and icons displayed at Kōbō Daishi memorial halls. Many pilgrims wear traditional white jackets (hakui), conical sedge hats (sugegasa), and carry staffs (kongō-zue) bearing inscriptions by the Shingon-shu clergy; practices are documented in guides by religious scholars at Doshisha University, Kyoto University, and International Research Center for Japanese Studies.
Completion requires planning for accommodation at minshuku, ryokan, and temple lodgings (shukubo), with reservations facilitated by agencies such as JR Group travel desks, private operators like JTB Corporation, and local volunteer networks including the Henro Support Association. Modern pilgrims may travel by foot, bicycle, car, or bus using services operated by Shikoku Kotsu, rental fleets from Toyota Motor Corporation, and cycling tours by GIANT Bicycles partners. Accessibility improvements funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency grants and prefectural budgets address trail maintenance, signage compatible with Braille and multilingual information in English, Chinese, and Korean.
The pilgrimage influences arts, literature, and media across outlets such as NHK, Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, and magazines like National Geographic. It supports local economies via crafts sold at markets near Matsuyama Station, culinary specialties like udon from Kagawa Prefecture and seafood in Kōchi Prefecture, and cultural industries including performances by troupes at venues like Tokushima Modern Art Museum and festivals including Awa Odori. Conservation tourism intersects with academic programs at Ritsumeikan University, cultural exchanges with Yonsei University, and film projects by studios such as Toho.
Temple conservation is overseen by committees composed of temple masters, municipal governments, and nonprofits including the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan), Japanese Heritage initiatives, and local preservation trusts. Restoration projects have involved carpenters from guilds tied to Kumano Sankeisha and artisans trained at institutions like Tokyo University of the Arts. Efforts address earthquake resilience informed by research from Building Research Institute (Japan) and heritage strategies coordinated with UNESCO-style frameworks employed by organizations such as the International Council on Monuments and Sites.
Category:Pilgrimage sites in Japan