day 24, 8:30pm, the henro experience

i've got some extra time, so i thought that i might address a few questions i've received in the e-mail.

there are many different kinds of pilgrims on the pilgrimage. i would say 60%+ are at retirement age. maybe 10% are <35.about 70% are bus henro and will complete the circut in 12days. the bus tours are well oiled machines. they can get 20 people in and out of a temple faster than i can get myself sorted out. i met an american grad student who was studying the pilgrimage. he tried part of the bus tour and he said it was surreal. temples all day, parties all night.
some bus henro seem more serious than others. i imagine you can chose the tour that suits your expectations.

about 25% are car or motorcycle henro. some are doing it in one trip, others stop by the temples when they're in the area. there are a lot of casual visitors on the weekend. my impressiom was that the car henro were more focused on the experience. most are simply not physical able to walk around the island. others may not have the time available. i've met a lot of priests who are doing the trip alone by car.

the last group would be walking or bicycling. everyone has a story. if the person has a shaved head it's usually an interesting one (in japan, when you've made some mistake shaving your head is a way to start fresh, or shame yourself. i might have that not quite right).
most of the people walking are older men. i've met 5 women and 5 people under 40. about 1000 people walk the pilgrimage each year and that number is increasing. during the peak seasons, spring and fall 20 people may go by a specific point in a day. in summer, right now it's about 2 or 3.

there are a lot of german names in the logbooks. i never checked the net, but maybe the pilgrimage is popular in europe too. i can see how it is similar to german volksmarche culture. a walk, follow the signs, collect the stamps.

well i hope that provides some insight. it's hard to develop an essay when you're typing ten words a minute. :)

if there are any other questions out there, send an e-mail. i'll do my best, time permitting.

night