Join me walking 45 days on the 88 Temple Pilgrimage in Shikoku, Japan
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2023
- An amazing experience walking 1200 km along the 88 temple pilgrimage in Shikoku, Japan.
I walked this pilgrimage fundraising for a charity close to my heart who facilitate free mental health programs to youth struggling. We raised $2213.37 for Heal.ed Tribe in the Gold Coast to support young people!
I am an adventure seeker and a changemaker so I will continue to go on adventures. Because of the overwhelming attention my pilgrimage videos received on Instagram (60,000 new followers!?) I have decided to keep documenting my travels and move them to UA-cam. I aim to travel to less known places and interact with the local people.
If you like slow travel, come along for the ride! (...bring snacks!)
💛 In this video you are going to be pleasantly surprised by many things. Some of them will be:
The kindness of the local people
The beautiful countryside of Japan
How being alone with yourself is incredibly healing
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🥾 But… wait! I have many questions about the pilgrimage…. Please write them below but I will try to answer some below.
The Shikoku pilgrimage route (or Shikoku Henro) is one of the few circular-shaped pilgrimages in the world. It includes 88 “official” temples and numerous other sacred sites where the Buddhist priest Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi) is believed to have trained or have spent time during the 9th Century. If walked, the entire route is about 1,200 kilometers long. This pilgrimage provides the an opportunity to reflect on one's life and to change for the better.
People’s motives for making this pilgrimage are varied. For example, some come for religious reasons, some to pray for healing or safety in the home, or some in memory of those who have passed away. In addition, some come just to get away from regular life, some for recreation, or some to spend time alone in reflection and to find oneself. For people today, it is being re-discovered as a healing journey.
This pilgrimage should not be considered as a stamp-gathering relay, but as a religious journey. The local people will welcome you for your decision to embark on the Shikoku pilgrimage.
●Walking:
This will take about 6 weeks (average 30km/day) and cost about 400,000 yen. This is the most traditional way, but it takes the most time and money.
●Charted bus:
This will take 9-12 days and cost about 250,000 yen. There is a variety of bus plans provided by travel and bus companies and in each case an official guide (sendatsu) will accompany the group. At present, there are no bus tours available in foreign languages. If a foreign visitor would like to participate in a bus tour then sufficient Japanese ability is required.
●Car:
This will take about 10 days and cost about 140,000 yen. You can rent a car from the closest train station or airport, but make sure that you are familiar with the rules of the road. It might be possible to request a car with a navigational system that has audio guidance in English or another foreign language.
🎒My packing list:
Osprey Eja 48L backpack
Sleeping mat
Sleeping bag
Inflatable pillow
Sleeping bag liner
Lightweight tent
Powerbank
1 x leggings
1 x hiking pants/shorts convertible
2 x shirts
1 x pjs
3 underwear
2 sports bras
1 x sunglasses
3 x socks
1 x hiking boots
1 x sandals
Toiletries
Iphone
Insta360
Pilgrim essentials: shirt, stamp book, bamboo sledge hat, osamefuda booklet
Rain jacket
Fleece
Buff
Knife
Airlite towel
Tripod
Spork
Charging adapter and cables
Knee brace
Travel hula hoop
Swimmers
Emergency blanket
Magnesium powder
Fisocrem
❤️Helpful Tips?
Henro.org has a great map
Download maps.me in advance for backup
Buy the Shikoku 88 guidebook at the first temple gift shop
Learn some Japanese if you are able before going (I wish I had known more!)
Be respectful and always ask before doing
If camping like I did never camp on private land and always ask permission
Camping in Henro huts is generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Always pick up your rubbish :)
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After my Instagram videos went viral alot of people asked for longer videos and in more detail so this is my first attempt at UA-cam and I will be sharing more videos in the coming weeks about the pilgrimage and my next upcoming adventure in Europe!! But for now if you like the video and want to see more please subscribe because one day I would love to be able to make a living from doing this. And if I can’t I will still continue to adventure but not as much 😂
Also if you want to see more short clips about my travels and read all the comments from my community on the videos check out my Instagram account 🌞✨ @heykiera_
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If you want to support me so I can continue to share more adventures with you I have made a donation link below where you can support.
Thanks a bunch!
Paypal: www.paypal.me/heykieraaa
Now, let’s go on an adventure!
💛 Kiera
Hey Kiera, Thankyou for your video. I am a Henro pilgrim also. Your experience shared was so full of positivity and just what the journey is all about, self discovery, learning to trust and seeing each new day as a new adventure. I learned the term Ichi go Ichi E from Sazaki Sensei on the Hachi ju Hachi in 2009. It changed my life. So many make videos that seem to miss the point. It is a pilgrimage, a journey to discover, not to grizzle and pick bad days. You seem to be a pretty kool young lady, mebbe our paths will cross some day. I am 70 now and looking after my Mother. If her time comes before mine I will head to Shikoku again to walk the trail. Take care, You are amazing Kiotsukete kudasia.
Thank you so much for such a kind comment! I try to be as real as possible and share all parts of the adventure. So glad to meet you fellow henro! I’ll go back to hike Kumano kodo in movement and maybe another pilgrimage in October. I love Japan. Maybe see you on the path! Gambatte!
Loved watching, I remember seeing your insta updates while you were on the walk itself!! I've always wanted to do this pilgrimage, trying to pre-save enough to be able to take that much time off unpaid and pre-pay rent in Australia so that I can do it in a few years time!
What a surprise to see you here after meeting you on the way! What a beautiful journey!
Thank you for putting this together on UA-cam! I was really looking forward to it❤
I’m waiting to see and hear about more of your adventures which are so inspiring. Wishing you all the best!
You are very welcome
Thank you very much for sharing that, the land and temples were so beautiful and was so cool to see the extreme generosity and kindness of the local Japanese people
Glad you enjoyed it! It was one of my favourite adventures ever!
I watched all your insta stories and I still watched this long form one. Great to see it all together in one video. Can’t wait for the next one 👍🏼
Aww thank you for that feedback! Wasn't sure if it was worth the edit but if I was trying to watch all the videos I would want them back to back haha :)
Thank you for sharing, Kiera!
You are so welcome :)
What an amazing adventure you had! Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome! Hope you enjoyed watching. Keep your eyes peeled for more videos this week :D
Thanks for sharing. I will walk 88T during 5 weeks starting April 1st and your experience is a nice reference for me.
All the best Osetai from my side. Bye
I saw some of your videos over on Instagram, so I was so excited to see this video when I was searching for other pilgrimage videos! What an awesome experience. I can't wait to seenmore footage from your journey.
Aww thanks so much! I am currently editing the last videos I meant to post months ago! Will be up next week likely :)
Fantastic video. Thanks for sharing!
You're welcome! :)
WOW! THATS AMAZING!!! Now seriously thinking about taking advantage of the stopover on my flight from Mexico to Japan to visit the temples🙆♀
This is amazing, I am glad you put it all together for us to see! I was just researching Shikoku for a road trip i'm doing for 10 days in June. This has really caught my interest to try and see many of the unique temples and places you passed through :)
Wow! How exciting you are going to Shikoku, it is SUCH a special place. Seriously! You will fall in love with it if you are open to it. You won't find the crazy Tokyo and modern style of Japan in Shikoku... it's the old way. There is a very famous bridge and small hikes in land Tokushima. I can't remember the name but I have an idea to go back one day with a van and travel around and hand out drinks and ossetai gifts to pilgrims walking. If you see a pilgrim and you feel like it offer them a drink or snack. A lot of locals always have a bag of snacks in their car ready to give pilgrims, it's so cute! Have a great journey and you can park your van for free and sleep at the roadside stations. And toilets are open all night.
Fantastic, thank you!
You're very welcome! :)
Great accomplishment with your pilgrimage and the making of your journey. I’m super excited to go on this adventure in the near future.
I can't wait to hear how you go! It really is a life changing adventure :)
I admire your energy and determination. Usually, people use some transportation (Bike or car) to complete the pilgrimage. Congratulations on your achievement!
What a great video! Thanks for sharing. I found your video while researching this pilgrimage, I’m thinking about trying it myself if schedule allows. Thanks again!
You are welcome! Good luck and I hope you go one day :)
Thank you for your video! You inspire me to do this and I start my journey April 27th!
Oh my gosh! So excited for you 😍
I hope you make other videos of your travels and adventure in the future ! You're a ray of sunshine
Thank you so much! this comment is so encouraging. I have taken a long break because I was on another adventure but I am ready to post some more videos this month!
All those gifts!!!
Like Christmas everyday!!!
Yes! So much kindness on this small island :)
loved it
Thank you so much Kiera. Inspiring for my 88temple adventure starting march next year. 😘 Cor from Amsterdam
Aww thank you! Wow you must be getting ready to go soon... how do you feel?
Thanks you, awsome video ! Yes, you inspired me to go and do it !
I’m so glad to read this 😍😍
yes ! that's what i'm talking about :d cheers for this video ! :)
Thanks so much :)
Loved following your journey on Instagram. Can't wait to see what you make here. :)
Thank you so much! I am back in 2024 and posting the new videos soon :D
And here it is❣️what an amazing Ohenro adventure experienced Kiera. You met a lot of locals and see the beauty of culture, you did it great. So proud of you❣️👏🏻
Thank you sooo much ❤ Can’t wait to share more over here 😊
I too did this Pilgrimage around the same time as you , March/April 23 , fantasic journey , apart from the days it rained , well done on this video very enjoyable .
Wow that's great! wish we had met on the trail. Did you enjoy it?
Amazing
thank you :)
I went to Japan in Sept and stayed in Mitoyo, Shikoku. I learned about the pilgrimage while I was there and I desperately want to go on that journey. My goal is to go when I turn 40, so I have 2 years to prep!
I’m so excited for you to experience this 😍
Japanese people love UK, Aussie, EU and US people a lot 🔵🇯🇵🥸 Amazing peaceful Samurai country 🔵 Amazing 🔵 Why not to build your own village in countryside of Japan with your friends 🔵 Amazing
Hey Kiera (haha), i saw you on facebook and looked like you were about a week or so behind me. Glad you enjoyed this humbling journey too! Make sure if you are in Japan again to visit Kobo Daishi at Koya San, me and a dutch girl I walked with went there to see him at the end and it was just amazing :)
Aww we were so close to meeting! I loved the trip. I’m going back next year to walk kumano kodo and finish in Koyasan. Can’t wait! 😍 Any tips to where you stayed?
@heykiera_ Nice! I'm going back next year too to do the Shodoshima 88 pilgrimage, a lot shorter distance wise, but it looks great. For Koyasan, we stayed in Osaka. The main station does a combo pass out and back to koyasan for the day that includes busses, limited express trains and some discounts for stuff around koyasan. You can stay in Koyasan, but it's pretty pricey and if you leave early from Osaka a full day is heaps of time to take everything in. Make sure to take your Shikoku stamp book too, there are 4 stamps you can get there that fill the last few pages!
I'll start mine the 26th of March!
Wow I’m so excited for you!!
How did it go? How was the weather ?Was it very crowded? We wanna do it too, but thinking of starting end of Feb!? Any recommendations? 🫶🏻
Great, great video. I liked how you created a personal, fun, easy to watch, informative video. I am looking to walk the 88 temples next year. What month would you suggest going?
Thank you so much! I loved filming this journey. I would suggest going in either march/April or in october/nov
Thank you for putting this all together in one video. I came across you on Instagram went you posted on day 14. Which temple was your favorite?
You are welcome! There will be more videos soon that haven't been put on Instagram because they are super looonngggg. It's so hard to choose just one.... I loved the temples in Matsuyama city but my favoutite would be the temple 66 or temple 37 OR 21! So many :)
Stupenda..e solare..... bella coppia ragazzi... piacere avervi conosciuto....
Grazie mille
Hey sweetheart ❤. How easily did you find the nightstays? And the cost of your overall walk?
hii thank you so much for that awesome video! I'm still only half way through so sorry if this is answered later on;
Did that actually end up costing you 400,000 yen even when mostly camping? I'm very interested in this trek but I'm also on a budget.
Thanks!!
I stumbled on your video when I was at a low point. I heard about this pilgrimage when I did the Camino in Spain many years ago and watching your videos inspired me to seriously consider doing this. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.
You are very welcome. This is the reason I share.... I did the camino many year ago and doing the camino then this is really special. This pilgrimage is very different.... but you will feel supported and loved and your life may change afterwards.
I LOVED this so much. You have inspired me to walk this pilgrimage with my daughter. I'm curious about language barriers. As we only know basic Japanese. What is your Japanese language level and necessary to communicate while you're there?
Thanks so much! Yes highly recommend, it's tough in some stages but it's a life altering experience. You can also take public transport easily at times. For language, I don't speak Japanese. I learned a few phrases to get by before going. I wish I had learned more because I could have connected with locals even more. But I got by fine with google translate app. I met a lot of locals who had little translation devices too because they are used to speaking with foreigners doing the pilgrimage. I would kind of get the idea from the context of the situation like someone holding a drink to me or food or waving me to come in... Then I would say thank you and others things in Japanese. If they wanted to have longer conversations I would get out my google translate app and they can talk into it and then it translates it to me. Apple also have a fantastic translation app. Highly recommend getting a sim or an e-sim with data pack for maps and calls if needed. Also public transport on google maps is great. It will tell you how much the ride is so you can give the driver the right money and have no confusion with trying to understand the number they are trying to tell you. Hope that helps :)
Hi! LOVED your Instagram journey! Thanks for doing this. Can shy people do this? If you are not outgoing, (but you wish you were!) will locals and other pilgrims make up the difference?
Hello! You are so welcome! Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, shy people can totally do this. You are alone quite a lot on the journey and locals might come and say hello... it's hard to say because you will have a different experience and meet different people to me. But from what I experienced they want to chat to you. Other pilgrims sometimes say hello, sometimes not. If you wish you want to connect with other travellers a simple hello and a question about something can start a great connection. Usually other pilgrims are keen to chat too.
Goddamn incredible! It brings back memories. Here speaks another pilgrim from shikoku henro! On my channel I also recorded my shikoku route in case you want to check it out. It made my day to see your video that brings back many memories, I did it 6 years ago…now you will have to do the Camino de Santiago in Spain 😜
I'm happy you did it. I'm happy for you. I subscribed and I'm looking forward to watching your next videos. The only question is: how can I manage not to get lost? Did you use a mobile phone? A map , GPS or something? Thanks a lot.
Aww thank you so much! I really appreciate it. I used a mobile phone daily to make my videos and I had Internet loaded on it. I used a website for gps called Henro.org and sometimes google maps and sometimes my guidebook
Thank you so much for sharing your journey, I've been following it via Tiktok. I have a few questions I'm hoping you could answer.
1. What is the app you use to show a little guy walking on the map, shown on your videos?
2. How far in advance did you make your reservations to stay at places to sleep?
3. How active were you before you started your journey, would you say it is doable for someone that can walk 5km/h?
4. How did you manage going to the bathroom? is it allowed to go to the bathroom in the woods?
5. How did you keep from getting "bored"? Any cool podcasts you can recommend you've listened to?
6. How did you manage laundry?
Hi Sorry for my late reply!
1. The app is called Travel Boast
2. I never made any reservations and just showed up or allowed thing to fall into place, I always had my tent as back up
3. I wasn't that active, I am a circus performer so I move my body alot. But my training was about 5-10km a day walking.
4. I went sometimes in the woods when desperate or along the way you will find many convenience stores, 7 11's and you can use the toilet, or the temples have toilets
5. I didn't listen to any podcasts so I could save my data to post my daily reels. I listened to nature, sung songs, dreamed up ideas, when I walked I sometimes would just mediate.... There were also sometimes people on the trail I would chat too.
6. Laundry washing is available at most homestays, to be honest I went many days without washing and sometimes I would visit a local laundromat and have my lunch while I washed and dried my clothes
Hope that helps :)
@@heykiera_ thank you so much for your reply, I'm was looking to do this trip with my little sister but sadly she passed after a suicide attempt and now I want to attempt if in her memory. I really appreciate you for taking the time and effort to record your journey and replying to my questions. Much love 💜
Love your video. Did you book your accommodation as you went along or in advance . Thank you
Thank you! I didn't book anything, I would just turn up but I would advise to book
Hey Kiera, thank you so much for your video and congratulation, you did this long way! May I ask you something? Did you book the rooms for the night always in advance? How long in advance, the day before or is same day possible? Looking forward for your next adventure 👋
You are very welcome!
I didn't book in advance because I had my tent. But if you are relying on homestays you must book in advance especially since the trail is getting busier and busier. I would say book a week in advance. Use Henro.org for getting contacts or book online via henrohouse.jp
I’m so amazed that you went the whole way through. What inspired you to make the pilgrimage?
I was surprised I finished it! As you can see some times were really hard…. but so happy I finished it. I was inspired by another traveller I met in the desert in Chile 10 years ago. They told me I must do it one day because it’s a life changing experience. I am taking this year off to tick things off my bucket list so I decided it’s time to do this and I dedicated my walk to raise money for a local charity who support youth in a mental health crisis. Read the caption to see how much my Instagram community raised 😊
@@heykiera_ I’m truly proud of you for making it the whole way & it is inspirational for me, as a full time nomad in the US.
And I made through the whole video. *chuckles* I’ve been watching on Instagram, but missed a few days. What a stellar experience. I’m so delighted that you got to share it.
@@TheWanderingLou Great to hear you made it through the whole thing - it was a long one! I am so happy so many people are inspired form this journey
I would love to know the app you used for the little animated character walking along the map.
Sure! It's called travel boast :)
Hi, Kiera. Great video. I'm about to go to Shikoku in a few days (March 2024). How heavy was your pack? And was there any concerns or issues with you camping with the locals?
Great to hear! I am guessing you’re there right now? My pack was around 11 kg. More with water. I always asked permission and if they said no I wouldn’t. I also was very respectful, always cleaning up after myself, offering donation, setting up at sunset and packing up before sunrise. Enjoy your journey
@@heykiera_yes. Here now. Arrived Osaka 13.3. Now at Tokushima. Begin the pilgrimage tomorrow. Thanks again for your video and all the advice.
Have a great time!! At temple 6 go up the stairs on the left at the front gate/entrance... That is where I slept on my first night on the pilgrimage and where many ohenro stay, sometimes they leave their osamefuda or ossetai :) @@Mark-rh2wi
Oh and there is a great guy to visit just before temple 11, on the left, he will open his home to you and offer you tea as ossetai. Give you information, very nice guy. Ohenro warrior :)
AWESOME!!! [insert turtle gif here]
Hi there :D
The proprietress at Misono was quite a fun person, wasn't she? We stayed there two nights as all the lodging were booked between there and Kochi due to a golf tournament.
Yes! She is one of my favourite hosts. She invited me to stay longer and do a hula hoop show for the people in her local village. But I couldn't because I was already behind on days. She was running for council when I was there - hope she won!
Did you enjoy the pilgrimage?
@@heykiera_ An emphatic "Yes"! But I think I would have enjoyed it more if my feet didn't hurt all the time. It appears I was there the same time as you, but much further ahead on the trail. My flight home was the day before Golden Week started.
I'm heading to the Pilgrimage in October and someone in one of the facebook Henro groups shared this. Havent gotten through it all yet but I'm so keen to hear from another Aussie who made it through the Pilgrimage! How'd you prep physically?
I'm heading in October too! I think I was the one who shared it in the group!
@@stacymizuguchi5921 when in October are you heading out? I know there's a Dutch couple and a lady with her daughter heading out at the start of October
@@Dr_Congo_WoW I'm the one who's planning on going with my daughter! Unless there's another one too haha. I haven't decided the dates exactly yet. Going to Canada for a bit and coming back end of Sept. Maybe 2nd week in October. How about you?
@@stacymizuguchi5921 ohhh I didn't realise the name!! We spoke. I'm arriving in Osaka on the 4th and Shikoku on the 5th. You were starting from a later point in the pilgrimage yeah?
@@Dr_Congo_WoW I'll start in Tokoshima from temple 1. I'm just doing about a week this year. I'm thinking I'll skip 12. The trek seems hard with a kid on my back. Are you walking the whole thing?
It would be great if pilgrims, when realising what way should be taken after a misdirected call. Would identified it for the followers? Somehow….making the trail easy to follow…
what time of year did you start the hike?
I started April 1st
cool! im about to do the hike around that time this year!@@heykiera_
Is there a section you could recomend for people who only want to do 1 or two weeks worth? 😊 Thanks! Love the videos btw ❤
Yes! You can start and finish anywhere on the trail :) I would recommend temple 44 or 45 area or near matsuyama
You met the author of your guidebook outside of the first temple? Sounds predatory.
Wow I don't know how you managed to connect those two things.... He lives near the temple and went to visit the monks as they just had re opened the gift giving part of the temple...
first, myenglish is notgood atall
I dont understand what you are saying
in movie
because, I study english now
I may havemet you before
cause, I live kochi in shikoku
my house is near29temple kokubunji
I'm walking everyday aroundnear
I always talk to pilgrimage fromoversea
its for studyenglish
how was kochi?
I think long distance
especially, to38from37 about80km!
Hello! Wow lovely to hear from you! Yes maybe we did meet. I loved Kochi and hope to be back later this year. You live in a very special place :)
Goddamn incredible! It brings back memories. Here speaks another pilgrim from shikoku henro! On my channel I also recorded my shikoku route in case you want to check it out. It made my day to see your video that brings back many memories, I did it 6 years ago…now you will have to do the Camino de Santiago in Spain 😜