My travel writing is basically in journal form, but consider these pages a valuable
source for information regarding Japanese culture and places of interest to visit in Japan.
This Japan
Ring site is owned by KCLifelogues.
A few weeks ago my friend Masaoka and I ventured to
the island of Shikoku, the fourth of Japan's larger main islands.
One of the highlights of Shikoku is seeing the small clusters of pilgrims paying
homage to Shikoku's revered saint: Kobo-daishi. Recognizable by their matching
white suits (bearing the motto which translates: "Daishi and I, going together"),
wooden staffs, and sedge hats, the pilgrims embark on what is known as "Shikoku Henro",
or the Shikoku pilgrimage, to retrace the steps of Kobo-daishi, the founder of the Shingon
sect of Buddhism. Many stories and myths, similar to the "miracles" performed by Jesus
Christ, surround Daishi's accomplishments. But among his many admirable traits, skills,
and powers, Kobo-daishi was also credited with introducing many aspects of Chinese
culture into Japan, including a system of measures, various Chinese medicines, the growth and processing of tea, as well
as architectural knowledge. Kobo-daishi has sometimes been dubbed a "father" of Japan.
In his search for spiritual truth and enlightenment, Kobo-daishi roamed from the rocky
shorelines of Shikoku, to the tops of its mountains, so today his followers
often make the pilgrimage by foot (though some make it any way they can, by
scooter, train, or bus). There are 88 Sacred Places (Buddhist temples)--88
representing the number of evil passions, as defined in Buddhist religious
doctrine. It is believed one can get rid of an evil aspect of one's character
at each of the temples, thus it's suggested that visiting only one temple is
at least a good start!
One pilgrim hotspot is Kotohira, or Konpirasan, a combined shrine and temple which
can only be reached by climbing hundreds of stone steps (as in over 800 gruelling,
exhausting ones). The "reward" isn't that phenomenal, but to say you did it,
"you and Daishi going together" as it were, may be worth it.
Finally, when crossing back to Honshu (the main island of Japan) via the Seto
Inland Bridge, we stopped off in Okayama prefecture to visit Zentsuji, a temple
built around the birthplace of Kobo-daishi. Not just an ordinary temple,
Zentsuji boasts a circular underground tunnel which takes visitors groping through pitch-
black passageways until they arrive at a tiny candle-lit alcove, the supposed
birthplace of Kobo-daishi himself. There you can take a rest from the dark,
light incense and pray, or watch the candlelight dancing on the walls painted
with Buddhist figures. Roaming the tunnels in total darkness is supposed to help us
clear our minds and concentrate on ridding ourselve of our sins, though most people
seem to giggle nervously as they grope along the walls--or maybe that's because
someone from behind groped them...
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Visit my redneck friends 
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Meet my friend Stefan in London,
and if you're lucky he'll let you see his obelisk.
Bow to Mother Okubo, one of Japan's lesser known goddesses.
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