So, Abby and I thought it would be a good idea to actually research the pilgrimage before we head off into the unknown. So with that in mind, here's what we found.
- The pilgrimage is made up of 88 "official" temples, but there 200 bangai (temples that aren't officially part of the 88).
- Traditionally, the pilgrimage is walked, but nowadays cars, buses, and bicycles are fine.
- When walking, the pilgrimage is about 746 miles long and takes anywhere from 30 to 60 days to finish.
- The Japanese word for pilgrim is "Henro." -There is a traditional pilgrim outfit that is worn.-The outfit consist of several parts:
- byakue-white pilgrim coat
- wagesa-scarf indicating religious pligrimage
- sugegasa-straw hat
- kongōtsue-walking stick, identifies people as pilgrims
- The more traditional way of doing the pilgrimage is on foot.
- Nowadays there is a tour bus that most pilgrims use.
- An important fact we discovered is that there is no right or wrong way to do the pilgrimage, only more or less traditional. It doesn't matter what you wear, how you travel, or how many temples you visit.
Can't wait to get started!
