The Shikoku 88, aka, Hachi-Ju Hachi, aka, the Henro Michi

In the Summer of 2006 I walked 1000 miles around the island of Shikoku in Japan on the 1000 year old path known as the henro michi, or then henro trail. This trail is the path set forward by the patron saint of the island, Kobo Daishi. Kobo Daishi brought Buddhism to Japan from China and the place of his birth, Zentsuji, is one of the largest temples in Japan.

Kobo Daishi, as a part of his spiritual training and mission to spread the word of Buddhism, walked this path over and over setting up temples and gaining recognition.

Roughly 1000 people every year walk this path and roughly 200,000 drive, bike, take a bus, or otherwise travel the path. The people who walk the path are supported by the locals and are given special gifts known as "settai". Settai can be anything from a single pickeled plum to a free stay in a hotel room. A henro must never ask for settai, just wait to experience it.

If you are a westerner, the sight of you may induce many people to approach you and others to stay away depending on the individual and the region in which you are walking.