Pilgrimage experience

One-day guided ohenro pilgrimage: Enlightenment unlikely, but definitely enlightening

16 of the 88 temples that make up the Shikoku Pilgrimage or “ohenro” are found in Kochi Prefecture, including some route’s the most remote and spectacular temples.

While walking the entire 1200km route is a dream of mine, I recently had the opportunity to try a half-day ohenro experience led by a local guide. We walked between Dainichi-ji Temple (temple number 28) and Kokubun-ji Temple (temple number 29). I’ve visited many temples in the past, but this was the first time someone had walked me through some of the important rituals performed at each temple. The 10km walk, chatting with my guide along the way, was short enough to complete in half a day, but long enough to appreciate the physical and mental challenge of tackling the entire route would entail. The “goshuincho” temple stamp book I bought at Dainichi-ji Temple is not only a wonderful souvenir of my day in Kochi, but its 86 empty pages a welcome reminder that I have unfinished business on the Shikoku Pilgrimage.
By Paul Walsh