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Before you embark on your journey to Shikoku, the following books might help:
1. Shikoku Japan 88 Route Guide (in English)
Get the 2nd edition (8/2009), published by Buyodo Co. Ltd.
You can purchase from http://www.davidmoreton.com/ or if you don't mind buying it until you get
there, it's available at Temple 1. Despite some inaccuracies with bathrooms and rest huts, this was the book we lived by day in and day out. It includes all the temples, hiking trail, elevation, accommodations with phone numbers, restaurants, convenient stores, mileage, and a page of useful phrases for making reservations which turned out to be essential.
2. The 88 Temples of Shikoku Island, Japan
by: Bishop Taisen Miyata
We brought this book along with us on the journey. It provides some history about every temple, as well as stories of events that occurred at the temples. Can be purchased for $25 by sending check to:
Bishop Taisen Miyata
Los Angeles Kōya-san Buddhist Temple
342 First Street
Los Angeles, Ca, 90012
(213) 624-1267
3. A Journey of the Soul by Tatsuro Muro and David C. Moreton. Pretty similar to #2 in that it provide history about each temple. Can be purchased off of: http://www.davidmoreton.com/
Because we were trying to limit our weight, I left this book behind and took #2 with us on the trip.
4. Japanese Pilgrimage by Oliver Statler
I had started reading this book before the trip, but never had a chance to finish. From the parts I did read, it's more of a story-telling book- not so much a guide for doing the trip. Good for bedtime reading.
5. Personal Journal
This is a must to record your experiences and journey. My next posts will mainly come from my journal entries, and from my memory for anything not recorded. One of my friends bought a moleskine journal for me and had my friends sign pages inside of it. It was so thoughtful and was a good way to get reminders of home while away on this pilgrimage. Thanks Alice!
