Reflecting on 50 days of digital diary keeping and thanking everyone who followed the pilgrimage journey

Completing the full circle pilgrimage after walking almost 1200km in 45 days - journey's end feels awesome

A rainy boring day brightened by unexpected osettai and shelter at an abandoned hotel

Completing all 88 temples, receiving certificates, and deciding to continue the full circle back to temple 1

A challenging 30km day with the longest mountain climb yet, reuniting with running Natsuko

A 26km forest walk with cat monkey sightings and an amazing dinner cooked by a monk studying Japanese cuisine

A day of encounters with kind strangers, including a German-speaking Japanese doctor from Tübingen

Breaking the 1000km mark and visiting Zentsūji, birthplace of Kūkai, during his 1250th birthday celebrations

Feeling the pilgrimage fatigue after 900km but accepting the challenge in the final stretch

Climbing to temple 66, the highest temple at 911 meters, with newspaper-wrapped obentos from a 94-year-old host

When you've walked 800 kilometers on an ancient pilgrimage route, your gear tells the story. Bruno's worn-through shoes and threadbare socks have become badges of honor, testament to weeks of mountain paths, coastal walks, and temple visits. But even the most dedicated pilgrim needs fresh equipment for the journey ahead. This simple shopping expedition becomes a milestone – evidence of how far we've come and preparation for the kilometers still waiting. Sometimes the most ordinary moments mark the most extraordinary achievements.

A 30km day with monkey sightings and staying with a remarkable 94-year-old host

A perfect weather day tackling henro korogashi passages, waiting for snakes, and rushing for the train

Adding taxi to the transportation portfolio after meeting the pilgrim collector again and an unexpectedly long 30km day

Exploring Matsuyama with Starbucks breakfast, visiting famous Dōgo Onsen, and enjoying colorful art exhibitions

Record-breaking day visiting 6 temples in cold rain over 32km, reaching Matsuyama completely exhausted

A perfect loop day without backpacks, visiting spectacular temple 45 with Buddha statues and cave climbing

Exploring Japanese breakfast culture and accidentally completing a 20km sprint by 12:30

Strange and interesting sights after 700km of walking, from abandoned cars to pink gas stations

A boring but peaceful 20km day with the first snake encounter of the pilgrimage

Reuniting with Natsuko and walking through post-typhoon forest trails, passing the 650km milestone

A detailed breakdown of our daily pilgrimage routine from 5am wake-up calls to 9pm bedtime

A 31km hike with motivational signs from elementary school kids and meeting a friendly Japanese cyclist

Visiting the beautiful temple 38 at Ashizuri cape and exploring the seven wonders including turtle-shaped rocks

One of those perfect pilgrimage days with ocean sunrise, beach swimming, best coffee yet, and mouth-watering Okonomiyaki

Visiting the most beautiful temple so far with 575 artistic drawings, taking shelter from rain at a cute cafe

Celebrating the completion of 1/3 of the pilgrimage with a 36km day and getting a whole house to ourselves

A pleasant sunny day hiking to temple 36, getting lost on a shortcut, and enjoying the best ramen in Japan so far

Returning to the pilgrimage trail with fully recovered feet, walking mostly along roads to temple 35

A proper lazy rest day with slow breakfast, saying goodbye to Tani, and staying at the beautifully designed Katsu Guest House

Using free rental bikes to visit temples 34, 33, and 32 while continuing foot recovery in Kochi

Taking rest days for foot recovery, exploring Kochi's historic Sunday Market and enjoying local cuisine

Saying goodbye to Kyra while dealing with foot injury, featuring dual perspectives from Maike and Bruno

The first day off from walking, celebrating Tani's 30th birthday and dealing with foot recovery

A challenging 25km day in pouring rain visiting temples 28, 29, and 30 while completely soaked

A shorter 23km day with onsen relaxation and the best meal in Japan so far, featuring local delicacies

Meeting a fascinating Japanese man who collects pilgrim stories, becoming the first pilgrim from Bocholt in his notebook

Returning to temple visits after visiting temples 24, 25, and 26, enjoying a home-cooked dinner with local delicacies

A challenging 40-kilometer day captured in a simple poem by Maike and Bruno

Walking along the coastline with beautiful sea views, enjoying vegan burgers and swimming in the ocean

Things aren't always as perfect as they seem in photos – here's the unfiltered reality of pilgrimage life. From crouching in cherry blossoms for the perfect shot to deciphering three different Japanese alphabets at convenience stores, these moments reveal the authentic daily struggles and joys. Heated toilet seats become luxury amenities, rain gear replaces style, and yukata kimonos transform every evening. This honest glimpse behind the Instagram-worthy moments shows the real adventure: messy, challenging, and absolutely beautiful in its imperfection.

A beautiful sunrise at temple 23 with stunning bay views, followed by an easy 20km walk and time for laundry

An early start leading to our first ocean view of the pilgrimage, including a mountain swing and a 32km day

A lighter hike without backpacks while climbing the two steepest hills of the whole pilgrimage

Experiencing incredible acts of kindness from locals, receiving osettai gifts, and discovering we were featured on national TV

Enjoying beautiful valley views and cherry blossoms after yesterday's mountain climb, staying at a renowned Ryokan

Tackling the challenging 'henro-korogashi' mountain path on one of the toughest days of the pilgrimage route

Visiting temples 6-10 with a heartwarming encounter at a local family's home, celebrating a 90-year-old grandmother's birthday

Starting the Shikoku pilgrimage from Bandō station, visiting the first five temples including Ryōzenji during cherry blossom season

Finally setting foot on the sacred island of Shikoku! After a 3-hour bus journey from Osaka, Tokushima welcomes us with its blend of modern city life and ancient pilgrimage traditions. No hiking boots yet – today is about final preparations, exploring the city, and getting acquainted with traditional pilgrim gear. The white robes and walking sticks in shop windows hint at the spiritual journey ahead. Tomorrow marks the true beginning, but tonight we savor this moment of anticipation before 1200 kilometers of walking meditation begins.

A sunny day in Osaka with pancakes, temple visits, turtle watching, and sunset from Tsutentaku tower.

The journey to Japan becomes an adventure before the adventure even begins. Navigating strikes, cancelled trains, and a grueling 12-hour flight, the determination to reach Shikoku remains unshakeable. Hong Kong serves as the gateway to dreams, a brief stopover where exhaustion meets excitement. Despite travel chaos and delayed connections, the pull of the ancient pilgrimage route grows stronger with each mile covered. Almost there – and truly, nothing can stop this pilgrimage from happening now.

The anticipation builds in Paris as final preparations are made for the 1200-kilometer Shikoku pilgrimage. With backpacks packed and spirits high, the adventure is just one sleep away. The city of lights serves as an unlikely launching pad for this ancient Japanese spiritual journey, where excitement mingles with nervous energy before stepping into the unknown. From the bustling streets of Paris to the sacred temples of Shikoku – the transformation begins here.