complete the 88 temple shikoku pilgrimage

Now I’ve been to the first 29. I am hoping to go out again once I finish work at the end of June. July is crazy hot here so I’ve been questioning whether it’s a good idea or not.
After visiting a couple temples today I’ve decided that I’m at least going to try. If I go home without at least making an attempt I know I’ll regret it. I’ll just have to deal with being incredibly uncomfortable the whole time.

Even though I do have this listed in 43 places I want to reopen this goal because it really is something that is important to me at the moment.
Now I’ve been to the first 17. I’ve met a lot of interesting people along the way and I have been learning a lot as well. I’ve visited all of the temples by bicycle, except Shosanji (12), which I hiked to from temple 11 (about a five hour hike – well worth it!).
I have a week off at the end of April and my goal is to get as far as temple 37. I wish I could take a longer vacation and go all the way around, but alas, the rest will have to wait.

I’m moving this to 43 places. So far I’ve visited the first 5 temples. Hopefully I’ll get to them all within a year or two.

I’m not sure if I’ll be able to do the whole thing in one spurt. I would like to do it by bike, but I would want to give myself at least two weeks and I won’t have that kind of vacation time. I was considering doing it when my contract is up, but I can’t be sure it would actually happen.
So, I’ve decided to try to complete it slowly over the course of the next year (less if I can do it!). I biked to temples 1 and 2 today. I would have gone to 3 but they seem to close at 4:30 and I got a late start. I should be able to do the first 22 just by doing daytrips on weekends. The rest will have to wait until I have a decent amount of time off… which might not be until April.
It’s not the same as fully emersing yourself in it for a solid month, but it will be a good experience none-the-less. It allows me to improve my physical fitness, explore shikoku and, most importantly, explore my spirituality.

I was just diagnosed with a heart condition that means if I do this, I will have to go at a much slower pace and may have to take 6 months to complete it on foot. Maybe when I retire.

After coming back from Japan, this goal feels much more attainable than before. My recent trip proves that my language skills, while they rust away here in the US, will snap back into use when put to the test.

I am also feeling like if I am to do this, I will do it by bike. I could then do it in a couple of weeks, rather than in a couple of months. I wouldn’t need to be “fully-loaded” – I could do the equivalent of a credit card tour (even if they don’t use credit cards much in Japan).

This will not just be a dream. It will happen one day.

anyone have any idea how long this takes by car? I would love to walk it, but the time involved is probably not possible for me. I would like to chronicle the route and publish for other like minded English speakers.

http://www.travelnotes.org/travel-write/travel_articles/asia/shikoku_88_temple_pilgrimage/index.htm

I don’t see how this is going to happen in the next 5 years. So this goes on the long-term list. But I don’t want to take it off—it’s something I’ve wanted to do far too long to take it off.

I did this about 18 months ago, it was the most amazing journey of my life. Walked the circuit for the most part, completed in a month, stayed in some free places (people of Shikoku have free places set up along the way where you can stay to cut down on costs). Met lots of kind strangers and everyone is most willing to help.
Get ready to go through lots of pain but it’s worth it.