Japan - Koyasan, last stop on the 2014 Skikoku pilgrimage
Hello everyone,
It’s time to bring this beautiful adventure to a close — the pilgrimage of the 88 sacred temples of Shikoku.
As a pilgrim, I now leave the island and head toward the small town of Koyasan, nestled in the mountains of the Kansai Peninsula, to thank Kukai (Kobo Daishi) for opening my eyes and guiding me along this spiritual journey.
Koyasan – Monastic town and eternal place of meditation for Kukai
Here I am in Koyasan, staying like many other spiritual travelers in a monastery.
At 5 a.m., the monks begin their morning prayers in a hall where
visitors are welcome to attend. It’s cold... but the atmosphere is
striking.
There’s something mysterious in the air here.
Eager to explore, I wander through the village, visiting its monasteries
and ancient buildings. It’s beautiful, peaceful, inspiring.
The Dalai Lama had just left. Sadly, I didn’t get to
see him — maybe our paths will cross one day in the Himalayas?
My story - Last day, final reflections
It’s the final day of my journey.
I feel something strange, a sense I had already experienced before reaching the end… the feeling of completing a journey alone.
Walking solo for forty days is like running a social marathon. I
remember the early excitement, the tibial inflammation I had to deal
with, and how I found a way to push through. Any doubt I had about
completing the pilgrimage slowly faded away.
These forty days of walking alone brought back memories of Nepal in
2006… Though this time, it was a little safer and more comfortable, the
experience was just as intense.
Now in Koyasan, surrounded by other visitors, I feel like just another traveler.
But I’ve saved one last sacred moment for myself — a visit to Kukai’s resting place, hidden deep in a vast forest.
Stone graves lie scattered among ancient trees, leading to the sacred hall where Kōbō Daishi (Kukai) rests and meditates eternally.
I pause there in silence.
A final bow.
Then it's back to my accommodation... ready to set off on the next leg of my journey in Japan, a new pilgrimage :
The Kumano Kodo Trail (pilgrimage), registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2004.
Discover the unique energy of Koyasan through these photographs. See you soon!
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