EPISODE 35: Ryukoji (Temple 41) to Oe, April 26, 2024
About 13.9 miles.
Since 2013, our company, Mountain Hiking Holidays has been organizing and leading hiking trips along the route of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Also known as the Ohenro, this is an eleven hundred year old Buddhist pilgrimage route that circumnavigates the Japanese island of Shikoku. The entire pilgrimage to the 88 temples covers a distance of roughly 700 miles. Today, the majority of the pilgrimage route follows paved roads, so for our organized, guided hiking trips we focus on the best remaining "trailed segments" that lead through Shikoku's lovely mountain and woodland landscapes and are best suited for hiking.
Beginning in the spring of 2017 the Osaki Family set off on a personal, multi-year project to complete the entire Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage on foot including all the segments along paved roads.
In March 2017, we walked from Temple #1 (Ryozenji) to Temple #17 (Idoji) over the course of four days.
In December 2018, we walked from Temple #17 (Idoji) to Temple #26 (Kongochoji) over the course of ten days.
In December 2019, we walked from Temple #26 (Kongochoji) to Temple #38 (Kongofukuji) over the course of thirteen days.
In November 2023, we walked from Cape Ashizuri to Temple #41 (Ryukoji) over the course of seven days (100 miles).
In April/May 2024, we walked from Temple #41 (Ryukoji) to Temple #64 (Maegamiji) over the course of 13 days (152 miles).
This video is a log of Day #1 (out of 13 days) of our April/May journey along the 152-mile segment of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage between Ryukoji (Temple #41) and Maegamiji (Temple #64) near Saijo City.
Mostly overcast skies on this day. We started from Ryukoji (Temple #41) and headed north to Butsumokuji (Temple #42). We hiked over the Hanaga Pass and descended to the flats along the Hijikawa (river). A fairly rapid walk brought us to Meisekiji (Temple #43) tucked into the folds of the hills near Unomachi. Continuing northward, we walked through the back streets of Unomachi heading in the direction of Ozu town. We ended the day's hike at Oe (大江).
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