99+3 HENRO
EQUIPMENT
BICYCLES I added a seat-post carrier and brought my GAINT downhill bike from the States. I did so because, between that and my mountain bike and my road bike, it was the most comfortable with up-right seating and full suspension. Also, it was suitable for off-road use if necessary. But as it turned out, all roads, streets, bike-paths, and even henro trails that we used in the flatter areas were smoothly paved... so a stronger but heavier bike was unnecessary. Nathan bought a touring bike for the trip, capable of carrying bags on both front and rear. Because so many approach roads to temples involve slopes too steep to pedal except for low-gear in low-range - which is slower than walking - we often just got off and pushed. So in hindsight, I would say, get the lightest road-bike and set it up for comfort. Remember, the Henro means pedaling at least from 7AM to 5PM, some 10 hours a day for 14 days, so be comfortable. Bring a pedal wrench (I carried a small lightweight one) and any other tools needed to break-down your bike for bagging... and quick patches, a spare tube, and pump. Otherwise, there are bike shops all over Japan including small towns if you need serious repairs. There is also a wide assortment of bike-bags here, as well as all kinds of new and used bikes if you want to equip here instead of lugging from elsewhere.
CLOTHING We carried five sets of underwear and socks; planning to wear everything three days a set. Back off to what you're wearing plus two spares. Most minshukus (B&B's) and ryokun (inns) and hotels have washers and dryers. Other clothing needed depends upon the season... but bring enough layers to get you through very cool and damp dawns, warm or hot days, and rain. I used rubberized waterproof rain pants from my old motorcycling days in addition to my HELLY-HANSEN hood-in-collar light-weight but lined storm shell which served as my general use outer-wear. I know that hi-tech bicycling wear is all the rage, but as you can see from the photos, I rode the whole trip in my CARHARTT bib-overalls... mainly because, as a retired carpenter, I've "grown accustomed to its face"... and all those handy pockets. To each his own. We both made extensive use of our CANNONDALE skull-caps... don't leave for the Henro without one.
OTHER GEAR Nathan created and maintained the blog-site throughout the trip using a SONY-ERIKSEN photo-phone and a REUDO foldup keyboard. I carried a PENTAX Optio digital camera in its Altoids mint can. We both brought our iPods but never once listened to them! All necessary Henro gear can be purchased at temple #1 (but shop around to the other stores in the area). We added a henro vest at temple #2 which proved to be extremely useful with pockets for name slips, 10ｴ coins, incense and candles, stamp book, and road-maps... and we just stowed the original henro jacket for the duration of the trip. Remember to pack everything in plastic garbage bags inside the saddle-bags; and, carry an assortment of other zip-lock bags for everything inside the garbage bags and your vest. One set of spare batteries for each light is recommended... but only one set. Batteries and other incidentals can be obtained at any convenience store along the way (they are everywhere). We also used a small blinking back-pack light swinging from our CAMELBAK's for extra visability at night. All lights, by the way, were CATSEYE of Osaka.
Although it is in Japanese, the "Aruku-Chizu: Shikoku 88 Temples" magazine has wonderful maps to guide one on the journey. Of all of the books we found, we ended up relying on this one.
THE TEMPLES
THE DOJO OF AWAKENING FAITH - TOKUSHIMA -KEN
01 RYOZENJI - TEMPLE OF VULTURE'S PEAK
02 GOKURAKUJI - TEMPLE OF PURE LAND
03 KONSENJI - TEMPLE OF GOLDEN SPRING
04 DAINICHIJI - TEMPLE OF GREAT SUN
05 JIZOJI - TEMPLE OF EARTH BEARER
06 ANRAKUJI - TEMPLE OF EVERLASTING JOY
07 JURAKUJI - TEMPLE OF TEN JOYS
08 KUMADANIJI - TEMPLE OF BEAR VALLEY
09 HORINJI - TEMPLE OF DHARMA WHEEL
10 KIRIHATAJI - TEMPLE OF WEAVING CLOTH
11 FUJII-DERA - TEMPLE OF WISTERIA
12 SHOZANJI - TEMPLE OF BURNING MOUNTAIN
13 JORAKUJI - TEMPLE OF EVERLASTING PEACE
14 KOKUBUNJI - TEMPLE OF OFFICIAL STATE
15 DAINICHIJI - TEMPLE OF GREAT SUN
16 KANNONJI - TEMPLE OF AVALOKITESVARA/KANNON
17 IDOJI - TEMPLE OF A WELL
18 ONZANJI - TEMPLE OF GRATITUDE MOUNTAIN
19 TATSUEJI - TEMPLE OF ARISING A BAY
20 KAKURINJI - TEMPLE OF CRANE FOREST
21 TAIRYUJI - TEMPLE OF GREAT DRAGON
22 BYODOJI - TEMPLE OF EQUALITY
23 YAKUOJI - TEMPLE OF MEDICINE KING
THE DOJO OF DISCIPLINING - KOCHI-KEN
24 HOTSU-MISAKIJI - TEMPLE OF CAPE MUROTO
25 SHISHOJI - TEMPLE OF ILLUMINATING SEAPORT
26 KONGOCHOJI - TEMPLE OF VAJRA PEAK
27 KONOMINEJI - TEMPLE OF GOD SUMMIT
28 DAINICHIJI - TEMPLE OF GREAT SUN
29 KOKUBUNJI - TEMPLE OF OFFICIAL STATE
30 ANRAKUJI - TEMPLE OF EVER PLEASING
31 CHIKURINJI - TEMPLE OF BAMBOO FOREST
32 ZENJIBUJI - TEMPLE OF CH'AN MASTER'S PEAK
33 SEKKEIJI - TEMPLE OF SNOWY CLIFF
34 TANEMAJI - TEMPLE OF SOWING SEEDS
35 KIYOTAKIJI - TEMPLE OF CLEAN WATERFALL
36 SHORYUJI - TEMPLE OF GREEN DRAGON
37 IWAMOTOJI - TEMPLE OF ROCKY ROOT
38 KONGO-FUKUJI - TEMPLE OF EVERLASTING HAPPINESS
39 ENKOJI - TEMPLE OF EMITTING LIGHT
THE DOJO OF ENLIGHTENMENT - EHIME-KEN
40 KANJIZAIJI - TEMPLE OF AVALOKITESVARA/KANNON
41 RYUKOJI - TEMPLE OF DRAGON'S RAY
42 BUTSUMOKUJI - TEMPLE OF BUDDHA'S TREE
43 MEISEKIJI - TEMPLE OF BRILLIANT STONE
44 TAIHOJI - TEMPLE OF GREAT TREASURE
45 IWAYAJI - TEMPLE OF ROCKY CAVE
46 JORURIJI - TEMPLE OF PURE EMERALD
47 YASAKAJI - TEMPLE OF EIGHT SLOPES
48 SAIRINJI - TEMPLE OF WEST FOREST
49 JODOJI - TEMPLE OF PURE LAND
50 HANTAJI - TEMPLE OF GREAT PROSPERITY
51 ISHITEJI - TEMPLE OF STONE HAND
52 TAISANJI - TEMPLE OF BIG MOUNTAIN
53 EMMYOJI - TEMPLE OF CIRCULAR ILLUMINATION
54 EMMEIJI - TEMPLE OF LONGEVITY
55 NANKOBO - TEMPLE OF SOUTH LIGHT
56 TAISANJI - TEMPLE OF PEACE MOUNTAIN
57 EIFUKUJI - TEMPLE OF GOOD LUCK
58 SENYUJITEMPLE OF THE HERMIT IN SECLUSION
59 KOKUBUNJI - TEMPLE OF OFFICIAL STATE
60 YOKOMINEJI - TEMPLE OF SIDE PEAK
61 KOONJI - TEMPLE OF INCENSE GARDEN
62 HOJUJI - TEMPLE OF WEALTH AND HAPPINESS
63 KISSHOJI - TEMPLE OF LAKSMI (FERTILITY)
64 MAEGAMIJI - TEMPLE OF FRONT GOD
65 SANKAKUJI - TRIANGULAR TEMPLE
THE DOJO OF ENTERING NIRVANA - KAGAWA-KEN
66 UNPENJI - THE TEMPLE OF HOVERING CLOUDS
67 DAIKOJI - TEMPLE OF GREAT GROWTH
68 JINNE-IN - TEMPLE OF GOD'S GRACE
69 KANNONJI - TEMPLE OF AVALOKITESVARA/KANNON
70 MOTOYAMAJI - TEMPLE OF HEADQUARTERS
71 IYADANIJI - TEMPLE OF EIGHT VALLEYS
72 MANDARAJI - TEMPLE OF MANDALA
73 SHUSHAKAJI - TEMPLE OF SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA'S APPEARANCE
74 KOYAMAJI - TEMPLE OF ARMOR MOUNTAIN
75 ZENTSUJI - TEMPLE OF RIGHT PATH
76 KONZOJI - TEMPLE OF GOLDEN STORE-HOUSE
77 DORRYUJI - TEMPLE OF ARISING WAY
78 GOSHOJI - TEMPLE OF ILLUMINATING LOCAL SITE
79 KOSHOIN - TEMPLE OF EMPEROR (TENNOJI)
80 KOKUBUNJI - TEMPLE OF OFFICIAL STATE
81 SHIRAMINEJI - TEMPLE OF WHITE PEAK
82 NEGOROJI - TEMPLE OF FRAGRANT ROOTS
83 ICHINOMIYAJI - TEMPLE OF FIRST SHRINE
84 YASHIMAJI - TEMPLE OF YASHIMA (ROOF ISLAND)
85 YAKURIJI - TEMPLE OF EIGHT CHESTNUTS
86 SHIDOJI - TEMPLE OF FULFILLING ONE'S WISH
87 NAGAOJI - TEMPLE OF LONG TAIL
88 OKUBOJI - TEMPLE OF LARGE HOLLOW
KOYASAN OKUNOIN - TEMPLE OF HOLY OF HOLINESS ON MT. KOYA