Shikoku Kochi 2-Day Tour | Experience the Shikoku Pilgrimage, a Holy Site of Japanese Buddhism | Visit Places Associated with Kobo Daishi Kukai [Departing from Kochi Station]

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• About Goshuin (temple/shrine stamps)

Originally called "Onōkyō" (offering of sutras), it is a stamp of the principal deity's name or a Sanskrit character that is given as proof of visiting each temple and offering sutras. Think of it as a certificate of worship. In recent years, the culture of collecting temple stamps has spread in Taiwan as well, but the temple stamps for the Shikoku Pilgrimage are given in a special notebook called a "Nokyōchō" (sutra offering notebook), not a typical temple stamp notebook. On this tour, you can get them at a total of six temples: temples 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, and 75.

*The cost of the temple stamp is not included in the tour price. Please contact us by message at least 14 days before departure to make your reservation.

① Shikoku Pilgrimage Stamp Book, Floral Pattern, Vermilion ¥3,000

② Shikoku Pilgrimage Stamp Book, Floral Pattern, Navy Blue ¥3,000

③ Shikoku Pilgrimage Stamp Book, Heart Sutra Pattern, Navy Blue ¥3,000

<Notes>

① You will receive the temple stamps at all six temples. We cannot accommodate requests for specific temples.

② Due to this being a group pilgrimage, individual visits to the temple office are not permitted.

③ You cannot receive a temple stamp in a stamp book that already contains stamps from shrines.

④ We will limit the number of stamps you receive to one per person.

⑤ We cannot be held responsible for any misprints, stains, or other damage, so please check the item yourself upon return.

• About pilgrimage supplies

For your first pilgrimage, you don't need to have all the special equipment. Simply wear comfortable clothing and footwear, and you'll be fine. However, bringing the following items will make the experience more authentic.

① Items you should definitely bring

• White robe or oizuru: Wearing a white jacket symbolizes a desire to purify the mind. Sleeveless types (oizuru) are recommended as they are easy to put on and take off. The color of the clothes worn underneath does not matter.

• Ring-shaped stole: This is worn around the neck as formal attire when standing before a Buddha statue. It is an item that should be prepared with priority over the white robe.

• Prayer beads: These are religious implements used to establish a connection with the Buddha of each temple. You may use the ones you have at home, but please refrain from using those specifically for funerals.

② Things that allow for a deeper experience

Incense sticks (3 per temple), candles (1 per temple), lighter, offerings (approximately 5-25 yen), sutra book.

Offering three incense sticks symbolizes offerings to the Buddhas of the present, past, and future. The sutra book has phonetic readings, so even first-timers can read it aloud.

③ You can also purchase it locally.

White robes, Buddhist stoles, prayer beads, incense, and other items can be purchased at the gift shops of the temples we visit on this tour. Many people participate empty-handed at first and gradually acquire the necessary items as they go along, so please don't worry if you don't have any pilgrimage supplies.

• Who is Kobo Daishi Kukai?

Kukai was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Heian period. He mastered Esoteric Buddhism, which was the cutting edge of Buddhist thought at the time, in an astonishingly short period of about one year, and brought it back to Japan from Tang China. He was also skilled in languages ​​and dedicated himself to social work, making him a kind of "modern-day multi-creator."

The Mikurito Cave at Cape Muroto, which we will be visiting today, is said to be where 19-year-old Kukai attained enlightenment. Standing in that place may allow us to get a little closer to the heart of Kukai from 1200 years ago. Even today, Kukai remains a relatable figure to many people, and is cherished as a familiar hero.

• An authentic pilgrimage experience guided by an officially certified guide

On the second day, you will be accompanied by a guide officially certified by the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage Association. A guide is a pilgrimage expert who has made the pilgrimage four or more times and has been recommended by the association. They will teach you the proper etiquette for visiting the temples, how to recite the sutras, and the meaning of each temple as you visit them together. You will experience a "real pilgrimage," which is fundamentally different from a typical tourist guide.

[Advance Notice]

Please observe the following rules when participating.

Please make your reservation using your correct name and email address.

Please be punctual during the tour.

If you are late for the meeting time, the tour will depart.