An Island Where Nature and Faith Intertwine
The beauty of the Shikoku Pilgrimage lies in how it unites two journeys: one of faith, visiting the eighty-eight sacred temples, and one of nature, walking among mountains, seas, forests, and wind.
Since ancient times, Japanese people have believed that gods dwell within nature’s most powerful forms—mountains, waterfalls, great trees, and stones. This sense of awe toward forces beyond human control—earth, weather, time—was the origin of prayer itself.
When Buddhism arrived in Japan, it did not erase this reverence for nature; rather, it embraced it, evolving into a belief that “the Buddha exists within all things.” Along the Shikoku Pilgrimage route, this fusion of nature worship and Buddhism continues to breathe—a uniquely Japanese worldview that remains alive today.
Landscapes Where Gods and Buddhas Coexist
For centuries, it was common in Japan for shrines and temples to stand side by side. A Shinto shrine honoring the mountain god would be built right next to a Buddhist hall worshiping the Buddha. This coexistence expressed the philosophy of Shinbutsu Shūgō—the unity of gods and Buddhas, born from the same truth.
Although the Meiji government later ordered the separation of Shinto and Buddhism, in Shikoku, traces of this harmony still remain. Small shrines can be found within temple grounds, and local festivals often feature both monks and Shinto priests together.
Walking the pilgrimage route, one encounters these blended landscapes of belief again and again—testament to a faith where boundaries dissolve.
Mountains and Seas as Paths of Prayer
The eighty-eight temples of Shikoku can be divided between mountain temples and seaside temples. For example, Hotsumisakiji in Kochi Prefecture stands on the tip of Cape Muroto, where Kukai once trained in a seaside cave. The wind is fierce, and the sound of waves merges naturally with the chant of sutras.
In contrast, temples such as Shōzanji and Unpenji sit more than 700 meters above sea level. When pilgrims finally reach these mountaintop halls, the sight of the temple roof feels like enlightenment itself. The steep ascent becomes a form of ascetic practice—each step a prayer.
This rhythm between mountains and sea is the essence of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, where the landscape itself becomes a stage for spiritual awakening.
The Spirit Within Stone, Wood, and Water
Along the route, pilgrims encounter Jizo statues standing in the spray of waterfalls, and small shrines nestled at the roots of ancient trees. For generations, Japanese people have found spiritual presence in simple elements—stone, wood, and water.
Water purifies, rocks protect, trees renew. Nature’s subtle energies have long been revered as vessels of the divine. For those walking the pilgrimage, these are not mere sights but reminders to see the invisible again—to sense what lies beyond the surface.
Even those without formal faith often feel the impulse to pause, bow, or place their hands together before such natural wonders. It is a shared instinct, a quiet dialogue between humanity and the living world.
Modern Pilgrims and the Return to Nature
Today, pilgrims from around the world come to Shikoku not only for religious reasons but also to reflect on themselves through nature. Walking through mountain trails, one hears only birdsong and footsteps; along the coast, the scent of salt air accompanies the setting sun.
Each moment brings stillness and a renewed sense of being alive. To pray in nature is not to seek salvation, but to accept the truth of being here now. The pilgrimage path becomes a kind of walking meditation—a way to return to life itself.
Praying with Nature
The Shikoku Pilgrimage is more than a circuit of temples—it is a dialogue with the elements. Wind, rain, sunlight, mist, stone steps, and trees—all are part of the teaching.
The ancient Japanese sense of “finding divinity in nature” and the Buddhist view of “seeing Buddha-nature in all things” merge together on this island, forming a living culture. Each pilgrim perceives something different within the landscape and discovers their own form of prayer.
To walk in harmony with nature is to continue a thousand years of silent prayer—one step at a time.
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