My itinerary can now be found in the free HENRO HELPER phone app. It is under the 49 day itinerary using the most difficult routes. For more information about the app watch the youtube video here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ER9tQ9ocb0I.html
I just back from Ohenro. Watched a few RU-vid videos before I went. To me, I felt every henros will eventually had his or her own henro, you can have a perfect planned journey or a hectic one, I met quite some henros who didn’t even know where they were going to stay tomorrow, but we all walked or worked out eventually. It’s a journey only you can make. So first, be safe, do what you can, and everything you see, everyone you meet and every route you walked made up your own henro. I will do it again.
Finished my pilgrimage about a month ago. Watching these videos, seeing so many places that my brother and I walked through, has got me wishing I was back there already. Such a great journey. If you are thinking about doing this trip, please do yourself a favor and make sure you do it. The planning is the hardest part, but once you get to the island, you'll find that your problems have a way of working themselves out. Maintain an open heart and an open mind, stay focused on your goals, and you will make it easily.
@@UsagiDango There was one at every temple when I needed to go. Almost all convenience stores will have an open bathroom for you to use. During the longer stretches where you are walking in the woods nearly all day, there will sometimes be a portalet, but it can be harder to come across. I wouldn't worry so much about it. I never had a problem.
Congratulations on this movie, it was perfectly made with all the information any aspiring henro needs. I had long planned to do this after I retired, doing it in sections of 2-3 weeks at a time. Then I met a Japanese woman and will soon be married. Ultimately we plan to move back to her home in Hiroshima, a short drive to Shikoku. Your movie helped me to know what to expect and how to prepare. I’ve walked long distances for fun all my life but a motorcycle accident and age are having their effects. However your greatest achievement here was to inspire and I am now committed to embarking on the adventure myself. So thank you so much. The ironic twist in the story? My wife-to-be used to be a tour guide for Japanese henro who did the journey by bus and has been to every temple
In preparation of my own Shikuko pilgrimage, I was watching almost all RU-vid content, relating to it. This video was probably the longest but by far the most intriging, because it not just gives you very detailed information, but also a very good feeling, how it will be, when you embark the journey of your own. 💫🙌 Great work🙏
Some clarification: Basically all huts are unavailable for sleeping, and the same goes for michi-no-eki (rest stations) these days. The best way to do this pilgrimage is to save up and spend money in local lodgings, so you can help revitalize the economy and follow the manners.
@@blahblah2779 The author of the video says you can sleep in them but maybe does not emphasize how weird you will feel by doing it, since most locals would only be ok with it as a last resort in an emergency, since most have signs that specify sleeping is not allowed. If you plan appropriately you should not have to do it. Also they are not really comfortable, if you really want to push your body each day doing long and sometimes hard walks I recommend to rest properly.
We might not have purchased our tickets to Japan had it not been for this video. Now, sitting in our hotel in Marugame on our last day on Shikoku we are quickly scheming our return. It's August so we opted to drive and only had 7 days so we did about 35 temples. The island is quite magical. Thank you for this incredibly beautiful video. It captures everything we remember about our time on Shikoku and so much more. We will probably watch it many times more this year!
I've been interested in the Shikoku pilgrimage for quite some time. Surprisingly, there is no quality video information on this pilgrimage available to the public domains. In my opinion, this is the best video I've come across. Thanks to it now I know where to find what I need )) It is very informative and helpful. I watched it to the end and enjoyed it a lot. Thank you for a great upload.
Thank you so much for this first REALLY comprehensive guide about the henro. I watched it from beginning to end and throughout I made a lot of notes. Best ever input I have ever seen. Great scenery and loaded with information about routes, accommodation, what to bring and what to buy, costs and so on. By watching the video, one truly gets an idea about what to expect on this pilgrimage. Many thanks for taking me on the visual journey of this long distance walk. Hopefully I will be able to also complete this wonderful foot journey one day. Due to some current health problems I needed to postpone the trip to beloved Japan. But I am certain that whoever wants to get started ( from the bottom of his heart) will be successful one day. Nevertheless I will use the time until then by improving my Japanese language skills in the meantime. Whoever completed the henro will be rewarded by a lifetime memory. Congrats to you, stay healthy in whatever pilgrimage you are planning to go on in future. ありがとうございます from Germany.
This was very interesting to see since I read many years ago a book about this pilgrimage and also wrote a paper about it in one of my Japanese studies class at Uni.
I am only 30 minutes in but I can already say this is the most focused footage on the Shikoku pilgrimage I have found so far. And so beautiful (may be too beautiful! You are only keeping the good parts haha) There are so many things I am discovering in this video. Most Henro show their face more than the scenery. This is not the case here. Most importantly you are the first one talking about those alternative paths. It really brings another dimension. I had my doubts about doing this pilgrimage because of the long boring highway sections walks. But this video is a eye opener. Well now I have to spend many hours trying to plan for my perfect route. Thanks for making this video!
thank you! this is one of the best guides to the shikoku pilgrimage. i appreciate the detailed information you've provided, the beautiful video scenes throughout the pilgrimage path, and the music provided as background. once again, thank you for your time and effort in gifting this guide to us!
One thing worth mentioning is that while the trail itself is roughly 1150km, you should expect to do significantly more than that. That's because a lot of the accommodation options are nowhere near the trail. Adding 2-3km to reach your hotel/ryokan etc it the norm (and next morning again, to get back on the trail). According to my GPS tracks I ended up doing 1300km. That's very different from regular mountain trails or something like Camino, and it's really something one should account for, because you might need one more week for example.
I found that most of the trail had lots of accommodation options nearby. There were some parts that i took a train or bus to get to my accommodation for the night and then took transportation the next morning to where I stopped the night before.
@@theshikokuhenro I didn't use any transportation other than my legs, and even with a tent (so I had more options available) I still struggled in some parts. Also 2-3km is "reasonably nearby", but has to be accounted for when planning stages, especially now that the temples are open only 8:00-17:00 (and some accommodation also requires you to show up before certain time). I don't consider this an "issue", just something to keep in mind, similarly to accounting for the time spent in the temples (4 temples for 15 minutes each is already additional hour!).
Congratulation! You have done it! Thank you so much! This is the best Shikoku Henro video I have ever seen. I only visited two of the temples. Someday, I will try again.
An excelent video, containing good information, thank you I intend to walk this in 2025. I have started to plan my days and route, this video has helped me in so many ways. Stay Safe
Thanks for such an amazing video! Beautiful footage, really nice editing + music, very informative and enjoyable commentary - most of all very peaceful and relaxing to watch! 🙏
Fabulous video! I enjoyed it very much and am looking forward to watching again. Very peaceful. Well made with excellent footage, music and narration! Thank you for sharing.
Absolutely wonderful and helpful resource; thank you! I appreciated your thoughtful tone and obvious respect for the place and process. Beautiful footage, too!
I have just come back from the 500 mile Camino de Santiago (Camino Frances) and am very interested in this for next year's Autumn challenge. Thank you sooo much for making such an informative video. All the best
So impressive! Planning for a Pilgrimage hike in Japan too! Thanks for the information. Watching from start to finish! The view is so breathtaking. I love it.
thank you so much for this video!! from spain, i go to shikoku in 3 weeks and i see a lot of videos about shikok the lasts months, but your video helps me a lot, is the better i see at the moment, good structure of information, funny, beautifull, and the final words help me a lot!! again… thank you so much!!
You did it! You must be very happy and this experience will change your life forever. Thank you so much for the possibility to accompanie you on your way for a while. And I agree people who look this video till the end must be very interested in Shikoku Henro ;-)
What a tour de force this video is! Amazing! I watched it beginning to end in one sitting, completely gripped the whole time. This really solidified my goal of making this pilgrimage when time permits. Thank you!
Fantastic video. I completed my pilgrimage 10 years ago at age 63. I can remember so much through your video. It really took me back. I want to go again if health permits. Thank you.
I have finished your whole Video and hope to Do the pilgrimage in two stages next year.That Is to give me Some more Time for more basic japanese. THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH
Thank you for taking us on this adventure with you. It allowed me to relive the pilgrimage my girlfriends and I did in 2019. We walked it from the 1st of september to 13th of october. Loved how you ended the enlightenment part with at the lovers secret date spot. Wonderful view from there! On our walk we actually hade a little date there, eating snacks and preparing for unpenji. We are planning on doing it again in a few years when we can get enough time off work. This video made me want to do it tomorrow. Thank you!
Nakasendo trail was one of the best hikes I’ve ever done. I’m from the States, particularly on the West coast. We do the Sierra’s here, but just the tranquility and beauty of Kiso Valley was marvelous. I wish I could live in Japan and retire. Such a beautiful place 😊
@@AliasChosen I am from the states too in the east. I hiked the Nakasendo for two weeks. I can't stop thinking about my time on the trail. Kiso Valley was the most scenic parts of the trail. I got ice cream near the Kiso horse ranch that was great. I would love to another hike in Japan. Maybe a shorted version of this pilgrimage in Shikoku or Hokkaido.
this gave me alot to consider in my 176 temple walk im planning. contemplating doing this and shodoshima one after the other. thanks for the video my guy this was an epic watch
I am glad it helped. I am linking a document with all the information that you need. The document was created by the same people who make the Shikoku Japan 88 route guide. It has Sutra information. henro88map.com/pdf/Henro-ENG.pdf
Thank you for this comprehensive guide to the Shikoko pilgrimage. The information provided is very helpful as we begin our preparations and the video provides an idea of what we might expect on the trail. Very Helpful and Inspiring!
Thank you for having shared this beautiful film and all your advices! I made plenty of notes. It is such a generous gift! Your film encourages to embark on this marvellous (despite inevitable challenges) journey.
This is nothing less than an amazing video, thanks a million for sharing it with us! It surely was a great inspiration and I am looking forward to start my pilgrimage in October this year :)
I prefer a western style bed so I usually booked regular hotels or business hotels. I tried to book online whenever I could because it was easier. I would often book one location for several nights and take a bus or train back and forth each day to walk the different sections of the pilgrimage. I usually booked a week in advance because I knew my entire itenierary in advance. I have been told that this year people have had to book accomodations at least 3 to 4 days in advance because it is so busy after the pandemic.
What a fantastic video! I have watched it a few times now and have also downloaded the maps to my Gaia GPS as I am starting to prepare for my pilgrimage in the fall of 2024. Thank you. Could you please share some more details about the locations where you stayed at the same hotel for more than 1 night and visited the temples nearby? I like that idea especially if there are vegetarian friendly restaurants also near by. Thanks.
Mahalo nui loa! Truly appreciate your film and especially your commentary. Will be doing portions of pilgrimage in late October. So grateful for preview of what to expect. We are hoping to keep on dirt trails and quiet roads as much as possible. 🌺
Thanks.... I'm doing Camino Frances in May, and have been interested in the dual Pilgrimage recognized in Japan on the Kumano Kodo. Anyhow, beautifully presented. Thanks for opening my eyes to another adventure.
Glad I came across such a recent video! I've been wanting to do this for years but it's hard to find very recent info. I've been wanting to know in particular, what's the internet situation? I work remotely and could probably do the hike if I could do a couple hours of work/Zoom meetings in the evening, but haven't found anything in my Googling about the quality or coverage of cell service along the route.
Most of the route is close to civilization where there is cell phone service. Most of the accommodations have decent Wifi. There are still a small minority of minshukus that are run by old people who do not have Wifi. Wifi is not prevelant in coffe shops or restaurants like in many Western countries.
Wow ! I am so thankful for this video ! Definitely going to do this Pilgrimage in the future, it's one of my life goals. Can I ask you 2 questions ? 1. Accommodation : How much time in advance do you have to call for booking ? Did you call only a day before ? I mean do you call on Day 2 to get your booking for Day 3 for example ? 2. Getting on the right trail (the one you planned) You showed us the signs could be sometimes confusing, so did you upload your planned trail in a GPS or just used the guidebook ? Thanks for your answers !
Some people book a month ahead and some people the day before. Most seem to book 2-4 days in advance. I bought the guide book which has all of the official alternate routes and studied it to figure out which routes I would like to take. Sometimes I didn't like the routes that the guide book suggested and I took my own routes. I then put all of my preferred routes into Alltrails so it would be easy for me to follow. You can see those routes in the video description.
【10:51】☺The title of this song is " Yuyake Koyake" that meaning "Sunset looks small burning". This song is called a nursery song, and I have memories of all children all over Japan singing this song when they were kids. By the way, have you experienced " Ossettai " on pilgrimage to 88 temples in Shikoku? I think if you explained the " Ossettai" you felt during the pilgrimage and the interaction with other pilgrims in this video , it would have been more moving. Anyway, congratulations on completing the Sikoku pilgrimage safely.. 🌷☺ 🌷 I'm sorry for my bad English.
Thanks for explainging the song. Now I understand why they were playing it in the evening. I talk about ossetai later in the video and explain that it is part of Shikoku culture.
I have been wanting to take this pilgrimage myself. Would you be able to make a video outlining the route you did, preparations, considerations, etc. Not many english language resources available. Especially few experiential and personal ones. Tips and things would be nice. I don't know what you talk about in the video because I didn't want to "spoil" it too much...
The routes that I took and the equipment that I used are in the video description. I suggest you purchase the offical english route guide "Shikoku Japan 88 Route Guide". It is available on amazon.jp or henro88map.com. It has information about all the different official routes as well as information about the questions you have asked. Good luck!
Hi, the Henro Helper app has the 49 day itinerary that I took. More specifically if you take the hardest routes on that 49 day itinerary you would be following in my footsteps. The Henro Helper app is free and available now for iPhone and Android. You can get more information by watching this video ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ER9tQ9ocb0I.html
Congratulations for your walk and the movie you shared here on RU-vid: it's really interesting and well explained. I did the Kumano Kodo last spring as prologue for my Shikoku walk that I planned for the next year and I have a question to ask you, if I can. During my stay in Japan, I was no able to get a japanese telephone number, because (as they explaned me), the telephone number is only provided just if you are living in Japan! I arranged all my stuff by internet, e-mail or social network because touse my number (passing through my country, I'm Italian) it was really expensive!! Well, you said on your movie, you need the telephone to book the hoteles/ ryokan or similar. So I ask you: how did you solve the problem of the telephone number? Did you us your phone without restrictions for some reasons that I ignore? Thanks for your response. (I hope you understood my point: unfortunately, my English is not so good ... )
Hi, thanks for making this wonderful video. I plan to start my walking on November 12th in the morning, visiting temples 1 to 10 but I will sleep in a hotel in the Tokushima city center. Now I’m a little confused because I don’t know if I take a bus to return to the city center or I have to walk. I don’t want to sleep in hotels or whatever near the temples. Do I have to return the following day to temple number 10 to continue my walking to temple 11 or I can take another path to visit other temples? Thanks for the answer.
Most people usually continue walking from the point where they stopped the day before but you can do whatever you like. How you decide to get to the 88 temples is up to you. I would suggest that on your first day you stop near temple 6. There is a bus that will take you all the way back to Tokushima City from there. The second day you can walk from temple 6 to near temple 11 and the third day will be temple 11 and 12 which is very difficult. Good luck!
