In celebration of the centennial of Koyasan Buddhist Temple of Los Angeles, the Shikoku pilgrimage tour has been organized for next spring under the direction of Bishop Emeritus Taisen Miyata.
The kick-off meeting is scheduled for this Sunday, Nov. 10, from 1:30 p.m. at Koyasan Temple. Bishop Miyata, author of the English guidebook The 88 Temples of Shikoku Island, Japan, will conduct the tour. It will be his 12th and final pilgrimage circuit of Shikoku Henro.
The Shikoku Henro pilgrimage has become very popular through the ages, not only among Japanese people, but also among foreigners, who follow the footsteps of the founder, Kobo-Daishi Kukai in the 9th century. More than 200,000 pilgrims visit the island of Shikoku each year.
For further information, call the Koyasan office at (213) 624-1267. The pilgrimage of Shikoku Island will depart LAX on March 31, 2014 and will conclude on April 15 at Takamatsu. Flight reservation will be handled by New Japan Travel of Little Tokyo, who can be reached at (213) 628-0280.
To see practical and historical information as well as articles, books etc in English on the Shikoku pilgrimage, please look at http://www.shikokuhenrotrail.com or http://www.davidmoreton.com