ＷＥＬＣＯＭＥ ＴＯ ＳＨＩＫＯＫＵ ＨＥＮＲＯ

  Ｓhikoku Ｈenro (pilgrimage) is to follow the path that Ｋobo Ｄaishi walked to train himself 1200 years ago, and to pray in 88 temples while feeling nature of Ｓhikoku . 
  Ｓhikoku means 4 country . Ｎow　there are 4 prefectures in shikoku named Ｔokushima, Ｋochi, Ｅhime, and Ｋagawa . Ａlso in the Ｅdo period (1600～1868) there were 4 countries in shikoku named Ａwa, Ｔosa, Ｉyo and Ｓanuki . Ｔhese old name are often used even now . Ｇenerally they think that 4 countries are 4 training fields which has different meaning . 
 　Ｔokusima (Ａwa) is field of religious awakening ,
   Ｋochi (Ｔosa) is field of ascetic ,
   Ｅhime (Ｉyo) is field of supreme enlightenment ,
   Ｋagawa (Ｓanuki) is field of nirvana .
Ｉt is compared with Ｍandara , painting of Ｂuddhist spiritual enligutenment and Ｂuddhist world view .
Ｉt is religious field that Ｋobo Ｄaishi founded as 4 process to cultivate one's mind and body to scour each one worldly desire with visiting each one temple while walking 1200km distance . 
　Ｗhite clothing is a trade mark for a pilgrim (ohenrosan) .
Ｗhen you put on white clothing and a sedge hat and have a Ｋongo cane , your title of daily life disappears , therefore the form of person becomes equal .
Ｉt represents a pure and innocent feeling that you entered the sacred world from the daily world .
Ｔhat is why when people in Ｓhikoku see a pilgrim, someone put them hands flat together in prayer, someone encourage pilgrims, someone serve with tea,candy and fruits etc...
Ｂecause in Ｓhikoku it is believed that all pilgrim are Ｋobo Ｄaishi .
　Ａs a receiving side , feelings of repentance comes out as to how much Ｉ am . Ｉt can be said that the goodness of Ｓhikoku is that such clean feeling comes out .
　Ｃalm pastoral landscape, violent Ｐacific Ｏcean, gentle Ｉnland Ｓea of Ｓeto, severe sacred mountain ... 
Ｗhen you touch these great outdoors which have many varieties, you would be thankful that you are supported by everything around you and live, and you notice yourself who is also impressed with natural small work, and you will feel a relief in the warmth of the contact with a person . Ｓuch feeling is the heart which connects to heart of Ｂuddha everyone has .
　Ｉn Ｓhikoku there is a transcending mind of sect and faith . Ｉt is a prayer of their heart . Ｅach prayer is different . Ｔhe former pilgrimage was a steady prayer trip that wished for the worldly and future comfort such as sickening healing , ancestor retirement , house safety and so forth . Ｉn modern times there are many people traveling on self-renewal and self discovery , or to heal mental injuries .
 Ｓhikoku pilgrimage is accompanied by two people ( dogyo-ninin in japanese ) . Ｉt means a two-person trip while being watched by Ｋukai who encourages the way of the pilgrimage . Ｉt is the way to look back on yourself and to meet buddha ,　Ｐlease refresh your mind and go around .