Pilgrimage, which means visiting 88 temples on Shikoku related to Kobo-Daishi,

Many people would like to go on a pilgrimage one day, but not quite to Shikoku.

In fact, however, there are 88 sacred sites on Sado Island where pilgrims can make the pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage originally originated in Shikoku, but there are similar sacred sites throughout the country. On Sado Island, the Sado Pilgrimage was established in the Edo period (1603-1867), using soil from sacred sites in Shikoku. Later, some of the sacred sites were closed down, so they were reorganised into the Sado Shikoku 88 Sacred Sites in the early Showa period (1926-1989), and then reorganised into the Sado 88 Sacred Sites in 2004.

This spring, I was invited to take part in a tour of the 88 pilgrimage sites on Sado Island. The tour is led by the NPO Sado Pilgrimage, which has its secretariat in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and many people from the Tokyo metropolitan area and outside Sado Island participate. The tour visits 22 mountains every spring and takes four years to complete a cycle.

You may have seen a banner like this when you were going around Sado Island. The temple with this banner is one of the 88 temples on Sado Island. The first temple on the Sado pilgrimage is Kokubunji in the Mano area. This is actually the sixth time this tour has taken place this year. We are already on the second tour, and this year we will go from the 23rd to the 44th temple. In fact, this is the second time I have participated in the tour this year, following last year.

Depart from Ryotsu Port and travel by bus. A priest from Sado will accompany you. The Hannya Shingyo (Heart Sutra) will be chanted at the pilgrimage sites. A copy of the sutra will be distributed in advance.

The matching hanten are original to the organising NPO (optional purchase). When you arrive at the pilgrimage destination, you will chant a sutra.

Each of the temples is a venerable temple. We were also able to see the precincts and inside the main hall.

You can also learn about the differences between different temples, such as the halls, Buddhist statues and the decorations inside the main hall. As the pilgrimage is not restricted to a particular sect, you can also come into contact with a variety of styles. In addition, many temples on Sado Island have remained in the Shinto/Buddhist syncretism tradition even after the abolition of Buddhism during the Meiji Restoration (Meiji Restoration).

The temples introduced here are only a small part of the 88 temples. It is also said that there are around 280 existing temples on Sado Island.

Incidentally, the pilgrimage is open to all religious denominations and beliefs. You can join a tour, or just go at your own pace. Why not experience the history, culture, natural climate and seasons of Sado by visiting temples on Sado Island?