Ōkuboji
"Large Hollow Temple"
Last stop! Ōkuboji is temple 88 of 88!! We've done it!! Well, almost. We have to head back to Mount Kōya to officially end our pilgrimage. It's not necessary, but hey, we're here, so we might as well. When Kōbō Daishi was here, he enshrined his walking stick here. Because of this, it's traditional for all henro to leave their walking sticks behind once they visit. As much as I'd kind of like to keep mine as a souvenir, Allison and I are going to leave ours, too.
Walking sticks aren't the only things left behind. There's also a large quantity of crutches abandoned here by people who were mysteriously and miraculously cured along the pilgrimage. No one can explain it very well, but I kind of like it that way. If they had an explanation, it wouldn't be as cool.
Alright, on to Mount Kōya!
